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Farmers to get TSP fertilizer at lower prices for Yala season

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Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera attended a discussion on agriculture issues held at the Presidential Secretariat, where he announced plans to provide Mada Pohora (TSP) to farmers at a lower price than the current market rate for the upcoming Yala season, through a gazette notification.

The discussion addressed various agriculture-related topics, including fertilization strategies, paddy marketing issues, and the prevention of yellowing in paddy cultivation. The Department of Agriculture revealed that the reduction in the use of Mada Pohora (TSP) is the main cause of yellowing in paddy cultivation. To prevent this disease in the upcoming Yala season, measures will be taken to increase the use of Mada Pohora (TSP).

The discussion also highlighted the different viewpoints promoted by organic and chemical fertilizer companies, and the importance of reaching a common viewpoint was emphasized by various scholars and institutions. Special attention was given to the use of fertilizer in the upcoming Yala season, and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake stressed the importance of providing farmers with the opportunity to purchase fertilizer at a lower rate than the previous season. Representatives from fertilizer companies suggested that the Agriculture Department should recommend suitable crops and agricultural inputs to farmers to increase their production at a lower cost.

During the discussion, the Minister of Agriculture noted that despite the challenges faced by farmers, they were able to produce a better paddy harvest in the last Yala and Maha seasons in line with market requirements. The possibility of selling old rice in warehouses as animal feed was also discussed, with the potential to increase the price of rice and decrease the prices of eggs and chicken in the market.

The discussion was attended by various officials, including the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayake, and President’s Adviser on Food Security, Suren Batagoda. Other participants included Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security A.M.P.M.B. Athapattu, Director General of the Department of Agriculture P. Malathi, Director General of the Consumer Affairs Authority, and representatives of organic and chemical fertilizer companies.

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No vehicles or vehicle permits for MPs – President

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Parliamentarians will not receive vehicles or vehicle permits this year, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

He said this while delivering the 2025 Budget speech in Parliament today (Feb. 17).

The President also added that measures will be taken to auction off all luxury vehicles in the state sector in March 2025.

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Human Immunoglobulin case : Lab reports from India & Germany received

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Sri Lanka has received laboratory reports from India and Germany regarding the human immunoglobulin drug.

The police confirmed that a team of officers had traveled to those countries to obtain the reports.

The Attorney General’s Department stated that the reports will be used as evidence, and a final decision on the case will be made after they are thoroughly examined.

(News1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Train numbers in daily operations to be upped to reduce delays

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Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, announced that steps are being taken to increase the number of locomotives in daily operations to reduce train delays ahead of the introduction of electric trains in Sri Lanka

He emphasized the importance of improving train punctuality, stating that the government is actively addressing service cancellations. Currently, Sri Lanka operates around 217 to 220 daily train services, with 17 to 20 cancellations on average. The goal is to minimize cancellations and maintain consistent operations.

Dr. Gunasena noted that while the country typically requires 60 to 70 locomotives for smooth daily operations, only 45 to 50 have been available in recent times. However, efforts are underway to increase this number, with the expectation that over 60 locomotives will be in service by the end of February.

Additionally, he highlighted that currently, 52% of trains operate on schedule, while 17% experience delays exceeding 10 minutes, and 10% are delayed by more than 30 minutes. The government aims to improve these figures by enhancing locomotive availability and efficiency.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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