2026-03-03 / Oral Question: Agricultural Research and Production Assistants Appointments (Q.913/2025)
Hon. Namal Karunaratne
2026-03-03
Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne, responding on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, provided information regarding the deployment of Agrarian Research and Production Assistants (ARPAs) across Sri Lanka's districts. He noted that ARPA divisions are demarcated along Grama Niladhari Division boundaries and are assigned across all provinces except the Northern and Eastern Provinces, where coverage is limited due to existing vacancies. The district-wise breakdown of ARPAs as of 31 December 2025 was referred to an annex, with the Department of Agrarian Development identified as the responsible institution and the "Agrarian Development Officer" as the designated head of each Agrarian Service Centre.
Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, I answer as follows:
(a)
(i) ARPA Divisions have been demarcated comprising one or more Grama Niladhari Divisions. Except in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, ARPAs have been assigned to all such Divisions established in other Provinces. Due to existing vacancies, only a limited number of ARPAs serve in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
(ii) The numbers of ARPAs serving in the 25 Districts as at 31.12.2025 are given in Annex 01 (lengthy).
(iii) Department of Agrarian Development.
(iv) The Head of the Agrarian Service Centre, designated “Agrarian Development Officer”.