Two-Year Progress and Future Plans of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Discussed

A discussion on the two-year progress of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and the implementation of its future plans was held at the Mahaweli Cultural Centre under the leadership of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K. D. Lalkantha.

Secretaries, officials, chairpersons and directors of institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, together with representatives of all trade unions within those institutions, participated in the discussion.

Several officials and trade union representatives addressed the gathering, including D. M. Wijeratne, Secretary of the Committee for the Resolution of Trade Union Issues and a member of the National Committee of the National Trade Union Centre; A. U. K. Dodanwala, Additional Secretary for Administration and Human Resource Development at the Ministry; J. A. Thusitha Nandana Jasinghe Arachchi, Director of Agricultural Development; Hemajeeva Gotabaya, Chairman of MILCO; and the Director General of Irrigation, Dr. Kitsiri Weligepola.

MILCO Chairman Hemajeeva Gotabaya said that MILCO had generated revenue of Rs. 11.6 billion.

He also said that MILCO had acquired vehicles this year for the first time in several years and that work on the Badalgama dairy factory would commence during the year.

He described the next two years as a period in which MILCO would undergo considerable change.

Addressing the gathering, Minister K. D. Lalkantha spoke about the role of trade unions in supporting national institutions and responding to crises.

He recalled that following the destruction of the coastal railway line caused by the tsunami, trade unions had contributed to rebuilding the railway. He said this was the first occasion on which trade unions had undertaken such an initiative, with the entire railway line being rebuilt within 56 days.

According to the Minister, employees of the Railway Department contributed to the effort without claiming overtime payments.

He said there had been an objective of building a socialist society, but that institutional heads still lacked sufficient understanding of how trade unions could be used to help institutions achieve their targets.

He added that whenever a disaster occurs in the country, people set aside their usual activities and come together to respond to it.

Lalkantha said that when institutional heads repeatedly suppress or mistreat their employees, the ultimate impact is felt by the public.

He also said that some government institutions were poorly maintained and that their condition could be easily identified.

Describing trade unions as a strong and organised movement, the Minister said the government was prepared to address the problems faced by trade unions.

He referred to the salary increases introduced through the first Budget and said that the government would again increase employees' salaries this time.

He also pointed to MILCO as an example, saying that the institution had generated profits and shared them with its employees, and encouraged other institutions to generate profits and share the benefits with their workers.

The Minister further appealed to employees and trade unions to provide greater support, noting that ministers no longer had official residences and asking whether others could also make some contribution.

He said that the benefits of such efforts would ultimately be received not by the current generation, but by their children.

Lalkantha also urged government officials not to view trade unions with a hostile attitude.

He said that if existing laws became an obstacle to the country's progress, the government would consider changing them.

The Minister further observed that trade union agendas did not sufficiently address how unions could contribute to the development of the country.

He requested that, if possible, the financial progress of the institutions under the ministry for the current year be brought up to 80 percent.

He said that demonstrating such progress would create opportunities to make further requests and improvements.

Lalkantha also noted that even after two years, Members of Parliament had not been provided with vehicles, and reiterated that the government would resolve all issues faced by trade unions.

He stressed that there was no doubt about the government's intention to address the concerns of trade unions.