The plant quarantine service was limited to Colombo so far. Because of this, the people of the North, East, South and Central Provinces had to come to Colombo to get Plant Quarantine Services. Therefore, they have to spend a lot of money, time and effort to get the quarantine services.
The people had complained to the Presidential Secretariat that they were in great difficulty to send especially plants and plant-related products to foreign countries through the postal service.
The Presidential Secretariat opened three new regional centres to expand the plant quarantine service at the regional level as per the instructions of the President. In addition to the Colombo Central Post Office, these branches were previously opened in Jaffna and Kandy Post Offices.
The fourth Plant Quarantine Services office was opened by Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera at the Galle Post Office premises.
Agriculture Secretary Janaka Dharmakirthi, Agriculture Department’s Acting DG Dr. Kamani Ranatunga and other officials participated.
This regional office has been opened with the aim of providing plant quarantine services especially in the Southern Province.
Minister Amaraweera said, “Until now, the plant quarantine service was limited to Colombo only. Because of this, the people of other provinces of our country had to come to Colombo from very far to get this service. However, as requested by the public, President Wickremesinghe has given the instructions to open three regional offices in the Northern, Central and Southern Provinces within this short period. Now those people do not have to come to Colombo to get the plant quarantine service.
“Today, some people are asking what the Governments that have been in power for seventy-five years have done. But the country is not where it was seventy-five years ago. A great development has taken place in the country. Our country has made great progress in many sectors such as roads, water supply schemes, agriculture, education and health. No one can deny that.
“But in the last few years, the country faced an economic crisis. There are many reasons for that. They don’t need to be explained. We all know those facts. Two years ago, our country was a country that did not have enough fuel at least. Our Treasury did not even have enough strength to find US$ 20 million to buy a gas ship.
“But today our foreign reserves have increased to US$ 5 billion. The rupee is stabilising again against the dollar. Hundreds of tourist hotels closed due to lack of tourists two years ago. But now the tourism industry has stabilized again. We have been able to produce most of the food items that we need to consume in our own country.
We made this difference in a short period of time. Because of that, the Government led by the President has been very successful”.
