A special meeting between Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne and the U.S. Deputy Ambassador was held at the Govijana Mandiraya

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Mr. Namal Karunaratne, met with the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Douglas Sonnek, today (21st) at the Govijana Mandiraya.

During the meeting, a number of matters related to bilateral agricultural cooperation were discussed. The Deputy Minister expressed his gratitude to the U.S. Deputy Ambassador for the significant support extended by the U.S. government to Sri Lanka during times of hardship faced by the country.

The Deputy Minister stated that, as someone who has led the largest farmers' organization in Sri Lanka and continuously worked closely with farmers, he has a deep understanding of their heartbeat. Accordingly, he emphasized that he has a clear awareness of the issues faced by the farming community.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that, as the current government has embarked on a new path free from bribery and corruption, Sri Lanka is now in a position to engage with the U.S. government in a highly trustworthy manner. He further presented to the U.S. Deputy Ambassador that, with the introduction of the first budget and the move towards a new system of financial management, Sri Lanka has seen an increase in stock market activity, tourism revenue and foreign remittances.

During the meeting, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador expressed his satisfaction with the progress of projects in Sri Lanka from the provision of fertilizer for the 2023 Yala season up to the present. He also mentioned that programs supported by U.S. aid, such as those aimed at improving the nutrition and meals of school children, as well as initiatives to increase the productivity of dairy farming and coconut cultivation, will continue to be implemented in the future.

During the discussion, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador stated that the U.S. government is focusing its attention on improving the productivity of both coconut cultivation and dairy farming in Sri Lanka.

The Deputy Ambassador made a special request to the Ministry of Agriculture, urging that the necessary background be promptly prepared to ensure the timely implementation of ongoing projects.

Joining the discussion with the U.S. Deputy Ambassador, Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramaarachchi, Additional Secretary (Agricultural Technology) of the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that Sri Lanka seeks the cooperation of the U.S. government in areas such as agricultural research, the importation of agricultural products and agricultural modernization.

Dr. Wickramaarachchi mentioned that the main focus of the new government is not on training officials, but rather on training farmers.

Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne inquired here about the concessions granted to Sri Lanka under the new tax policy in the United States when importing agricultural inputs, seeds and modern agricultural technology. In response, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador stated that the U.S. government is exploring the possibility of providing some relief to Sri Lanka concerning the taxes imposed on imports. He further emphasized that the U.S. government remains committed to providing not only the modern technology needed for agricultural development but also all necessary forms of cooperation. The Deputy Ambassador also noted that the U.S. is dedicated to enhancing the diplomatic relations between the two countries, ensuring continued cooperation between the U.S. and Sri Lanka moving forward.