‘WON’T PLASTIC CRATE LAW AFFECT KANDY FARMERS?’
Malwatte Chapter Mahanayake Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera has said farmers in Hanguranketha, Karalliyadde, and Ududumbara areas who still transport their produce on packbulls were not in a position to use plastic crates.
“The farmers who are already facing hardship for want of transport would be further burdened because of this,” the Mahanayake Thera told Central Province Agriculture Minister Nimal Piiyatissa during a meeting on Saturday in Kandy. The Thera also questioned whether it was it not a problem for the Central Province Agricultural Department to implement the requirement of transporting vegetable in plastic crates. Speaking on other is- sues in the area, Ven. Sumangala Thera further said the clearing of the forest cover in the hills for housing was going on unchecked.
“Isn’t there a law to prevent it? It is prohibited to fell coconut trees but thousands of coconut trees in Mawatagama area are being felled for timber and tractor loads of logs transported to other areas. However, I am pleased to find that the Agricultural Department has implemented an effective plan to develop agriculture. We must depend on a agriculture-based economy. Tourism will not last long as a profitable industry. The recent incident at Tangalle has affected tourism in the area,” the Mahanayake Thera said.
Minister Nimal Piyatissa said he was the only Minister representing Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s party in a provincial council and that he was particular about spending public funds.
“My ministry has not implemented any unproductive programmes wast- ing public funds. I am particular about the transparency. Individuals receiving political patronage are responsible for the clearing of forests. The supporters of prominent politicians would not listen to us,” he said.