'Seed production standards should be maintained'

Ridma Dissanayake and Rakshana Sriyantha

In yet another attempt to fan the flames of communal disharmony, the Udayan newspaper had carried a story quoting a speech by Kilinochchi District Secretary Rupawathie Kethieshwaran that measures are in place to take action against persons manufacturing agricultural products illegally in the Kilinochchi district.

Udayan had reported this speech in a manner that arouses communal disharmony.

Commenting on this, Kilinochchi District Secretary Rupawathie Kethieshwaram said the agricultural sector in the Kilinochchi district is now on a fast track towards development after three decades of war in the country.

In such a situation, some people are producing minor crops seeds using illegal methods to earn a fast buck. But it has caused a huge decrease in the minor crops plantation and the production capacity of minor crops in the district.

Therefore, the District Secretariat Office has decided to take action against those using illegal methods to produce minor crops seeds. Some are trying to change that decision to achieve their narrow objectives. But this decision will never change, she said.

"According to the Mahinda Chinthana future vision, Sri Lanka's self- sufficiency in agriculture receives an important place. At present, Sri Lanka is self-sufficient in paddy, undu and maize, and now we are trying to make the country self- sufficient in other crops as well," she said. To make this effort a success, we need seeds with good quality.

That is the reason for taking such decisions against persons who are producing seeds without adhering to standards," she added.