The Closing Ceremony of Agriculture Sector Modernization Project (ASMP)

Marking the conclusion of the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project, initiated in 2017 jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation and the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, with financial assistance from the World Bank and the European Union, the closing ceremony was held under the patronage of Hon. K.D. Lalkantha, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation.

The event took place on 13.12.2024 at the Suhurupaya Auditorium in Battaramulla.

During the event, awards were presented to three outstanding beneficiaries who demonstrated exceptional skills across various sectors supported by the grants. Additionally, under the farmer company concept introduced to Sri Lanka for the first time, awards were also presented to the 10 best-performing farmer companies.

Furthermore, a directory containing details of all beneficiaries was unveiled and several crop processing centers established were symbolically inaugurated live through Zoom technology during the event.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation, Hon. K.D. Lalkantha, stated that these few hours had become a period that inspired new ways of thinking and innovation. The Minister further praised the project, emphasizing that instead of relying on multinational companies to develop the agricultural sector, the focus has shifted to enhancing it through farmer-led companies. He noted that the government also aims to initiate agricultural product exports and digitalize the agricultural sector, with this project laying the necessary foundation for achieving those goals.

The Minister also highlighted the need to advance the collective farming system established by these companies to a level where individual land portions transcend physical boundaries, becoming identifiable only through documentation. He emphasized that such a system would enable the maximum utilization of technology and thereby, significantly enhancing the productivity of the agricultural sector. 

Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation, Hon. K.D. Lalkantha, further stated that his vision is to build a prosperous nation by addressing issues through collaboration among state institutions, private sector and farming communities, without involving nepotism or favoritism in these projects.