President calls for unified national plan to reform agriculture industry, address rural poverty

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake 

In a bid to revitalise the agriculture sector and tackle pervasive rural poverty, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called for a long-term, unified national plan. 

Speaking at a progress review meeting for the Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries, and Aquatic Resources Ministry on Wednesday, the President emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to re-organise the country’s disordered agricultural landscape.

During the meeting, which was held at the Presidential Secretariat, Dissanayake expressed concern over the effectiveness of ongoing rural development initiatives. While acknowledging the success of certain projects, he questioned the extent to which they have alleviated poverty in rural areas. “The primary objective of rural development projects should be to eradicate rural poverty,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of addressing the root causes of economic hardship in Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable communities.

The President also highlighted that poverty in Sri Lanka is not only a financial issue but a social crisis that involves the marginalization of certain groups.

He stressed the importance of a targeted program aimed at tackling this complex issue, calling for a comprehensive new plan that extends beyond financial relief to address the broader social inequalities that fuel poverty.

The meeting included extensive discussions on the status of ongoing projects under the Ministry, with a focus on how to improve the implementation of rural development programs. 

Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry Secretary M.P.N.M. Wickramasinghe, along with Senior Officials of the Ministry, Project Directors and other Officials of the Ministry participated in this discussion.