The final draft of the National Agriculture Policy has been completed, the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said.
The Minister said the expert committee appointed to prepare the policy has informed him that the policy will be completed soon.
The expert committee consists of Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe, Prof. Udith Jayasinghe, Prof. Palitha Weerakoddi, Prof. M.B.Ratnatilake, Dr. B.V.R. Punyawardena, Dr. D.Kuruppuarachchi as well as former Director Generals of Agriculture, Dr. Ajanta de Silva and Dr. W.M.M. Weerakoon.
The Minister said once finalised, the draft will be submitted to Parliament for approval.
“Agriculture in this country suffers a tragic fate due to not having a permanent Agriculture Policy. This year 400 million US dollars have been spent on the import of rice during the first 10 months of this year. Officials too are to be responsible for this situation. Our country’s agriculture has not progressed as the progress seen in other countries' agriculture sector,” the Minister said.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
Update: Five of the twelve passengers on board the bell 212 aircraft that crashed into the Maduru Oya today, have succumbed to their injuries, the SLAF said.
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