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New River Valleys Act in the offing

The Government will shortly introduce a new River Valleys Act to develop the country's agricultural sector. The proposed Act will divide the country into six zones and uplift the agriculture at zonal level, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera said.

The Minister who was the Chief Guest at the second day of the agricultural exhibition organised by the Field Crops Research and Development Institute (FCRDI), Mahailluppallama on Wednesday to mark its centenary said the vision of the Prime Minister is to do his very best to the country.

Under the motto of "Regaining Sri Lanka", candid efforts are being made by the Premier to implement a large number of development projects for the well-being of country's people. The Ministers are willing to extend their fullest cooperation to the Prime Minister to make this endeavour a success, he said.

The Minister said the Premier has planned to grant 60 per cent financial allocation to develop water management and agricultural sectors. The Government has given priority to agriculture because the development of agriculture directly contributes to country's economy.

Agriculture Technology and Crop Productivity Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara said the FCRDI has made an immense service not only to the dry zone but also to the entire country.

"We are making an unsuccessful attempt to shirk our responsibility saying that the country's agriculture sector collapsed during the colonial era. The damage caused to agriculture was minimal."

After the administration of kings, certain developments were achieved in the agriculture sector during even the colonial era. FCRDI is also a result of that, he said. 

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