I will fulfill the highest responsibility to provide fertilizer subsidy to farmers – President
President Maithripala Sirisena says he would personally be dedicated to fulfill the highest responsibility in providing the fertilizer subsidy for the farming community.
The President was addressing a special meeting held with relevant Ministers and the Members of Parliament as well as the representatives of the unions of the farmers at the District Secretariat in Polonnaruwa yesterday (Feb. 28).
The representatives of the unions drew the President’s attention to the issues they face with buying the paddy seeds and getting the fertilizer subsidy. They also presented their proposals and ideas on this regard.
President Sirisena pointed out the essentiality to get together with all parties and seek solutions for such issues.
“The officials should take proper decisions in the proper time. Nobody can get rid of the responsibility of the people’s issues by pushing it to one institution”, he said.
“A special meeting on the issues on buying of paddy seeds and getting fertilizer subsidy will be held in the future. The ideas and proposals of the representatives of the unions of the farmers will be taken into consideration at this meeting”, the President further stated.
Minister P. Harrison, Chief Minister of North-Central Province Peshala Jayarathne, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Director of the National Fertilizer Secretariat, Director General of Agrarian Services and the Director General of Paddy Marketing Board also participated in this discussion.
(President’s Media)

Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Indian PM Narendra Modi to visit Sri Lanka in early April 2025 March 15, 2025
- Sri Lankan President joins special Iftar ceremony at Temple Trees March 15, 2025
- Customs Inspector arrested for smuggling Rs. 30 Million cannabis oil March 15, 2025
- Police constable arrested for taking bribe to issue clearance certificate March 15, 2025
- COPE uncovers irregular NMRA certification process March 14, 2025
Only now? Welcome to the morning sir. I guess you had a very long night’s sleep.
Lo Sirisena inspired by his trip to Singapore has woken to the reality of the role of agriculture in development. but then he ought to have some idea having come from polonnaruwa which records the highest paddy yields but then does not match the 10 MT produced in the far east!
Yes the people at Batalagoda is tinkering with the problem of producing hybrid seed paddy and have not got very far…why! I doubt if teachers at Kundasale were conscious of this particular then as now and what of the Universities in Peradeniya and Matara?
fertilizer is part of the solution and there are other constraints to maximize production and it is time that the president direct the agencies to resolve this problem.