Agriculture sector plays vital role - Minister Amunugama

Shirley Wijesinghe

The great service of plantation professionals to the national economy should be recognized in a better manner, Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said.

The plantation professionals had faced numerous obstacles in recent decades at local and global level such as land reforms and estate privatization. Their role before the new economic and political changes had been vital and challenging , Dr. Amunugama said.

He was addressing the 74 th Annual General Meeting of the Ceylon Planters' Society held at Cinnamon Lake Side Hotel , Colombo recently.

Dr. Amunugama stressed the need for exploring better markets for Sri Lanken plantation products such as in China. He said that the country's agriculture sector has a vital role to play in the future in the context of the global economy recession. Emphasizing the necessity for research for the development of the plantation and agriculture sector, the Minister appreciated the role of the Tea Research Institute, Batalagoda Paddy Research Institute , Coconut Research Institute and Rubber Research Institution in the overall development of the country's economy. The Minister urged these institutions to maintain their recognition and work towards the betterment of the people and the country.