The government has embarked on an ambitious plan to strengthen agriculture by targeting the export market, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the largest granary warehouse complex in Sri Lanka, constructed in Buttala, in Monaragala.
"Twenty five percent of the country's labour force is engaged in the agricultural sector. It is therefore is the responsibility of the government to accord due priority to this sector," he said, adding that the President and the Prime Minister were making every effort to strengthen that sector. He said the prime objective of the Ministry of Finance is to channel public funds to ensure maximum benefits to the people:
"On 20th November 2015, we outlined the vision for development of the country. It is evident from the budget proposals what our priorities are," the minister said, urging the nation to rally round: "We must rid ourselves of a dependent mentality and create something new, to achieve economic stability," he said.
 Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake speaking at the opening ceremony of the largest granary warehouse complex in Sri Lanka, constructed in Buttala, in onaragala.
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Karunanayake spoke on the record paddy harvest acquired last season, and said the government intended to manage this bumper harvest in an efficient manner: Excess stock would be milled and distributed to Samurdhi beneficiaries. "Approximately 10,000 tons can be distributed in a month among Samurdhi recipients," he said.
"Additionally, there is the possibility of selling about five tons to government departments and hospitals."
"We can reduce nearly two hundred thousand tons of rice annually from existing stocks. We will also export some of the surplus stocks. We plan to export to countries like Indonesia, Ghana and Nigeria. As there is surplus stocks, we decided to increase the current tax on imported rice from January 31 - this is to protect the local paddy farmer," he said.
The minister said that if priority is given to locally produced items, Sri Lanka's balance of payment can be reduced.
"Last year alone, the government allocated Rs. 4.8 billion for fertiliser subsidy. Subsidies for rice cultivation amounted to Rs. 8.4 billion. Can a government continue to bear such a huge expenditure? Everybody talks about strengthening agriculture. But a country cannot be developed through agriculture alone. Therefore we have to focus on other sectors, while continuing to support the agricultural sector," he said.
Minister of Rural Economic Affairs, P. Harrison, Minister of Public Administration Ranjith Madduma Bandara, parliamentarian Ananda Kumarasiri and the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga were among the attendees at the opening ceremony.
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