Ministry to amend Acts to face new challenges

Shirley WIJESINGHE

The Plantation Industries Ministry will amend Acts related to the institutions which come under the purview of the Plantation Industries Ministry, Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said at a media briefing yesterday.

The main objective of the projects is to fine-tune the activities of these organizations to face new challenges in the global export market, he added.

Minister Samarasinghe said Acts related institutions coming under his Ministry were outdated with shortcomings vis a vis current trends in the commercial world as well as climatic changes.

He said that the Ministry will consult the private sector too before drafting the new Bills.

The Amendments to be brought to Acts related to the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Coconut Development Authority, Coconut Cultivation Board , Coconut Research Institute, Rubber Research Institute and Sugarcane Research Institute.

The Minister said Sri Lanka produces only five percent of its sugar requirement. The functions of SLSRI will be expanded to minimize the present gap between research development, and extension services, for the benefit of sugarcane growers and other stakeholders, he added.

Samarasinghe said a six-month deadline had been given to seven tea factories out of 13 belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund which are running at a loss.

The Ministry learnt that there are no Factory Manager for these factories which have been running at a loss for a considerable time.