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The Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera today (01) instructed the Department of Agrarian Development to expedite the distribution of 6.98 million litres of diesel which was donated by the Government of China to paddy farmers.
Under this programme, arrangements have been made to distribute fuel free of charge to farmers, who have cultivated paddy from 1/2 an acre to 2.5 acres in this Maha Season.
Accordingly, it is scheduled to provide 15 litres of diesel for 01 hectare of land.
A meeting was held by the Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera today regarding the delay of distributing fuel to farmers. Officials of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Development were also present at this discussion.
During the discussion, it was decided to commence the distribution of the relevant stock of fuel from next week and also to expedite the issuance of tokens to farmers through Agrarian Development Centers.
Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will provide necessary facilities for farmers to obtain fuel from the fuel stations which have been allocated for this purpose.
The Department of Agrarian Development requested the farmers to immediately inform the issues faced by them in obtaining fuel, if any, to the relevant District Secretary or to Assistant Agrarian Development Commissioners.
The Minister stated that a sum of Rs.99 million has to be spent for distribution of fuel and the Ministry of Agriculture will take steps to provide the said amount to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
It is scheduled to distribute fuel from next week.
Until then, issuance of fuel tokens will be carried out by Agrarian Development Centers.
