President’s Office calls for swift action to achieve agricultural modernisation

Saman Ekanayaka 

The President’s Office this week issued clear directives to the relevant authorities to expedite the implementation of the agricultural modernisation programme, so that the island nation can witness tangible outcomes at the earliest.
President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake asserted efforts must be taken to avoid interruptions seen in previous agricultural initiatives and urged comprehensive guidelines for effective execution.
Addressing the provincial heads, district heads and leaders of 26 selected Divisional Secretariats involved in the programme, Ekanayake highlighted a proactive approach to swiftly address any challenges that may arise during the programme’s implementation. He assured that the issues would be promptly communicated to the relevant line agencies for resolution.
Revealing the strategic decisions at national level, Ekanayake disclosed plans to establish an agricultural innovation secretariat office.
This office, alongside the committee led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and involving the prime minister and ministry secretaries, will serve as a hub for agricultural modernisation knowledge and services. The local agriculture committees are expected to play a pivotal role in this setup.
The president’s directive on legal drafts for private sector involvement in the programme was underscored, demonstrating a commitment to broad-based collaboration. The initiative will harness the capabilities of eight main ministries and will be executed in 26 regional secretariats, with support from eight departments.