The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, while we debate several crucial Ministries, let me first present views on agriculture. Today agriculture has become a burden to farmers due to several main reasons. The principal cause, as I see it, was the ill-advised decision of the previous Government to ban chemical fertilizer and push organic overnight. The consequences of that rash, short-sighted decision still affect our farmers and the whole country. Our granary and the Treasury were both emptied. People thought that after the last election, with a President who had previously been the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation under President Chandrika Bandaranaike’s Government and who hails from a rural farming background, there would be a renaissance in agriculture. But what we see is an agriculture policy tied to a fence—you cannot move forward when tethered like that. Initial rice shortages caused suffering; fertilizer did not arrive on time; potato and onion farmers still cannot sell their harvests; vegetables fetch no fair price; post-harvest losses persist; wild animal damage continues; and agricultural insurance remains sluggish. When this Government came in, the country faced a rice shortage unprecedentedly; long queues for red raw rice appeared. The “Let’s try and see” President ultimately appeased the rice mill owners, increased retail price by Rs. 10 per kilogram, and that’s how it was “resolved.” He said in Opposition that if rice must be imported, what’s the point of a Government—and even our General Secretary reminded that he claimed any Pettah trader could do it. The policy statement said not a single grain of rice would be imported. Yet not only are we importing rice, a special duty of around Rs. 65 per kilogram is imposed, burdening the consumer.

¶ 02 In 2024, this Government—elected claiming to protect domestic agriculture—spent billions of rupees importing consumer goods and essential commodities. On foods that can be produced domestically, Rs. 1,045 billion were spent on imports in 2024. It is clear the Government prioritizes importing up to 66% of foods that could be locally produced.

¶ 03 Two-thirds of the world’s population lives in Asia where rice farming is prevalent. In Sri Lanka, paddy is the primary food crop. Today, the main problem faced by paddy farmers is the lack of a fair price. Even after selling a kilogram, people wonder what they can buy in return. The Government guaranteed price is inadequate—that is what we hear from all farming areas. For the 2024–2025 Maha season, the Government allocated Rs. 500 million to buy 300,000 metric tons of paddy, but managed only about a tenth of that. For Yala 2025, though the target was 5,000 metric tons, only about 20 percent was procured.

¶ 04 Repeatedly at seasonal meetings we hear of delays in supplying basal fertilizer. We request the Government to ensure timely fertilizer delivery across the country; if fertilizer is delayed, yields suffer.

¶ 05 Next, the Government’s second major initiative was the elephant census. Hon. Madduma Bandara also spoke of it. After an expensive exercise, the Deputy Minister said 50 percent was unsuccessful, and the report is still unpublished. What benefit did it bring in mitigating crop damage by wild animals?

¶ 06 You often talk of a “76-year curse.” But since independence, our leaders endeavored to make this a land of farmers. The Father of the Nation, D.S. Senanayake, presented the Land Development Ordinance in 1938, laying the foundation for the Rajarata colonization schemes—Minneriya was started, distributing 2,000 acres (2 acres highland, 5 acres lowland) to settlers; later Elahera, Ridibendi Ela, Tabbowa and others were launched. How can you speak of development while forgetting the giant steps of that era?

¶ 07 Similarly, the largest development drive to uplift the economy was under J.R. Jayewardene, who accelerated the Mahaweli to complete in six years what was planned for 30—Victoria, Randenigala, Rantembe, Kotmale, Ulhitiya, Rathkinda and Maduru Oya—developing agriculture and the nation. Those who speak of a 70-year curse should remember this.

¶ 08 By last year, agriculture’s share of GDP had fallen to about 5 percent. In 2023 around 147,000 people left agriculture; paddy area declined by about 10 percent; and there is a severe shortage of skilled agricultural labor. This threatens the future. We call for modernization and greater focus on food security.

¶ 09 The Minister said cinnamon falls under his Ministry; I learned that just now—I thought it was under Plantations. Good to know—it was newly added. I intended to speak on cinnamon tomorrow under the Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry because cinnamon vitally affects my Galle District. The largest cinnamon cultivation is in Galle; also Ambalangoda, Meetiyagoda, Batapola, Karandeniya, Uragaha, Balapitiya, Kosgoda, Induruwa, Elpitiya and many more.

¶ 10 Among export crops, Ceylon cinnamon earns the highest revenue; we command about 85% of the global market. When the Yahapalana Government took office in 2015, cinnamon export earnings were Rs. 17.9 billion; by 2018 they reached Rs. 34.8 billion; by 2022 they exceeded Rs. 45 billion—significant growth. Exports rose from 13,548 MT in 2015 to 17,536 MT by 2018. While you complain about 76 years, consider these figures too.

¶ 11 Cinnamon has a long history and growing demand in Europe, used to reduce salt intake and as a health beverage. We have an opportunity to grow that market by encouraging value-added products—cinnamon tea, jaggery, powder—supporting entrepreneurs. Cultivation, once confined to South and Sabaragamuwa, is being promoted in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Ampara—good, let’s expand.

¶ 12 A Cinnamon Development Department was established at Karandeniya under a former President; I will speak more on that under tomorrow’s debate and the issues faced—fertilizer, maintenance, and nursery capacities require solutions.

¶ 13 You also asked us to speak on Land Reform Commission, Land Commissioner Department and Survey—having served at Lands, let me comment. The President, as Finance Minister, pledged to improve efficiency in releasing State lands to the people, and to integrate land agencies’ data into a central digital system—this is good. If properly implemented, land allocations to public projects can be more efficient. Also, focusing on under-utilized lands and buildings for productive economic use is important.

¶ 14 However, discontinuing the “Urumaya” freehold program initiated under President Ranil Wickremesinghe has caused problems. Last Budget debate, the Minister said after review it would restart soon. Yet since November 2024 it has been halted; while 70,000 permit and grant files were collected, only about 30,000 “Urumaya” deeds were issued, and around 40,000 eligible lands had their permits/grants cancelled, causing hardship. Cabinet has approved a new program “Gimikama” (renamed), but we have not seen it operational in our provinces. What we see is old wine in a new bottle. Please clearly explain the new deed issuance procedure today.