Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, K. D. Lal Kantha, has stated that the honor and integrity of the public service were completely destroyed under the previous economic system, leading to the collapse of the entire nation due to both political mismanagement and public service failures.
He made these remarks on the 22nd during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Agriculture to inaugurate 500 Highland Chartered Shops.
Minister Lal Kantha emphasized that theft, corruption, and fraud have now been completely eradicated. He further stated that the epicenter of fraud is no longer within the political sphere but rather within the public service.
“We are currently in a transitional period,” he said. “The government is confident that necessary political reforms are being implemented effectively.”
The Minister expressed concern that all government institutions and public services had been allowed to deteriorate over time. He reflected on the past, noting that government employees, even those working in remote villages, once received widespread respect and admiration.
“Today, when someone says they are a government employee, people immediately suspect them of being a thief or a troublemaker. Even the title of Secretary to a Ministry is now viewed with suspicion, often linked in public perception to scandals such as the fertilizer issue,” he remarked.
Minister Lal Kantha also revealed that the Highland and National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) institutions were previously earmarked for sale. He pointed out that an agreement still exists with India’s Amul, which complicates the uninterrupted operation of these institutions.
He clarified that diplomatic considerations are being taken into account as the government moves to liberalize relations with India and operate these two institutions in a manner that avoids significant diplomatic entanglements.
On the topic of investment, the Minister said that local investors are consistently showing interest. He noted that the NLDB has recently requested 500 acres of land for a durian plantation intended for export to Malaysia. However, he cautioned that if all available land is allocated for foreign exchange-generating crops, there may be insufficient land left for producing food for domestic consumption.
Minister Lal Kantha concluded by referencing ongoing consumer concerns, stating that he, along with many others, is still searching for a bottle of the public sector product “Kalkiri” labeled as ‘Millico.’ He stressed that while issues of toxicity have emerged with certain private sector products, no such concerns have ever been associated with public sector offerings.
