2026-03-03 / Oral Question: Agricultural Research and Production Assistants Appointments (Q.913/2025) 2026-03-03
The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raises concerns about the working conditions and responsibilities of Agricultural Research and Production Assistants, noting that financial duties such as acreage tax collection, loan recovery, and fertilizer subsidy distribution are being improperly transferred to farmer organizations without clear accountability. She highlights the spread of invasive plant species, including *Mimosa pigra* and an unidentified aquatic plant in tanks, for which no budget allocations have been made for removal despite a recent survey. The speaker also draws attention to media reports that these officers may be removed from supervisory roles, and that allowances are not being paid when they supervise more than two ranges, prompting threatened industrial action. She demands that the Ministry present a work plan to address staff vacancies, unpaid allowances, and the resulting burden on farmers.
Mr. Speaker, I have come to ask a supplementary question.
Farmers are facing difficulties due to shortcomings in the available facilities. Matters such as acreage tax and other levies, recovery of cultivation loans, and distribution of fertilizer subsidies are all the responsibility of Agricultural Research and Production Assistants. As I understand, the details you tabled include this. However, now these tasks are being shifted to farmer organizations, even though these are financial matters and no one is taking responsibility. These officers are carrying a heavy workload.
There are also invasive plants in cultivation lands and in tanks. Mimosa pigra (giant sensitive plant) is spreading, and there is a yellow-flowering aquatic plant proliferating in tanks.
Furthermore, removal of those invasive species is also part of their duties, but no provisions have been allocated for that. A count was carried out recently, but the SES removal procedure is not being implemented. They said the material is sent to Laggala; that is all, and even there, capacity is limited.
Today’s newspapers report that these Agricultural Research Assistants are to be removed from supervisory duties. The Ministry says that when they supervise more than two ranges, the allowance is not paid, and therefore they plan to launch an industrial struggle. If such a situation arises, the pressure will fall on the country’s farmers. There are many vacancies in these positions, recruitment has not been done to fill them, and required payments have not been made. As the Ministry, what is your work plan on this?