M.P.N.M. Wickramasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation, and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, has disclosed ongoing investigations into irregularities within the Ministry of Agriculture during previous governments.
Speaking to the media today (21), Wickramasinghe highlighted concerns surrounding the acquisition of a building by the Ministry, which involved a substantial deposit.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is uncovering some irregularities. In the past, the Ministry acquired a building on a rental basis and paid a deposit of 660 million rupees. Typically, a bank bond is secured for such transactions, but in this case, no bond was obtained. The building has now been handed over, but the deposit has not yet been recovered,” he explained.
The Secretary further noted that legal action is being pursued following the advice of the Attorney General’s office regarding the matter.
He also addressed the current shortage of Nadu rice in the market.
“There is presently a shortage of Nadu rice. Farmers and suppliers claim that selling a kilo for 220 rupees is unsustainable given the current paddy purchase prices. To address this, a meeting has been called at the Presidential Secretariat tomorrow at 11 a.m., where officials will discuss the pricing of rice, onions, and other essential commodities. Government intervention is needed in the paddy purchasing process and its conversion into rice. If the state sector can compete in the market, it will help control prices and offer some relief to the public,” Wickramasinghe said.
