Donate to Chinese one million metric tons of rice to Sri Lanka

Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Finance has stated that the Chinese Government will provide one million metric tons of rice to Sri Lanka in the near future to mark the 71st anniversary of the Sino-Sri Lankan Rice-Rubber Fact signed between China and Sri Lanka during Late PM Sirimavo Bandaranaike's tenure. This was stated by the Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera.

The Minister made this statement while handing over four tractors to local government bodies under the Surakimu Ganga program at the Ministry of Environment today (19).

The Minister also stated that the objective of this program is to prevent the discharge of garbage and other contaminants into the Menik and Walawe Ganga.

Journalists inquired from the Minister regarding the increase in food prices.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said that the Cabinet had discussed to provide an allowance of Rs. 25,000 per hectare to farmers whose crops were damaged during the Maha season this year.

He also said that the Chinese government will provide one million metric tons of rice under the Sino-Sri Lanka Rice-Rubber Agreement in the future as a measure to control the rise in rice prices and therefore the price of rice will be controlled. Although some say that the price of a kilo of rice will be 300 rupees, it will not happen, the Minister said.

However, this is not a happy thing. The Minister also said that in a country like ours where sprouts are a thing of the past, we should be concerned about not being able to grow the food we need.

The government has decided to declare 2022 as the National Production Year and launch a food production program. Accordingly, a committee was appointed at the Cabinet meeting yesterday to expand home gardening on government premises and lands. Ministers Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, Mahinda Amaraweera, S. M. Chandrathasna, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, as well as the Secretaries of the Ministries of Lands, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

He also said that under this cultivation war program, all public sector institutions are planning to cultivate food crops on their premises. He also stated that the Minister of Finance has submitted this Cabinet Memorandum as a supplement to the Cabinet Memorandum submitted by him as the Minister of Environment for a Cultivation Fight.