Basil Rajapaksa ‘should come to Parliament soon’

COLOMBO: Basil Rajapaksa should come to Parliament soon and make a comprehensive contribution to the economic development, Company Estate Reforms, Tea Estate Related Crops, Tea Factory Modernisation and Tea Export Promotion State Minister Kanaka Herath said, Daily News dot lk reported.

The state minister made the remarks at the Rambukkana Electoral Committee meeting of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), said the report.

The Rambukkana Electorate Committee was held at the Rambukkana market place with the participation of a large gathering to coincide with the Fourth Convention of the SLPP.

State Minister Herath said that Basil Rajapaksa is taking the lead in the economic development and he can provide a more efficient and effective service by being in Parliament.

He said that all members of the SLPP are looking forward to Basil’s arrival in Parliament as he has the potential to serve the country more formally and efficiently as a member of the Legislature.

The State Minister said that the country should move beyond the traditional political pattern and should be at the forefront before the party.

“The Legislature has a special responsibility to fulfill the aspirations of the people and the country and Basil Rajapaksa could come to Parliament and lead the parliamentary group and strengthen the course of the Government,” he said in the Daily News report.

According to Daily News, he said that this year’s budget has allocated the largest ever for the development of the tea and rubber sector.

Allocating such a huge amount has created an opportunity to develop the agricultural economy along with the manufacturing economy.

“Through this, a subsidy of Rs. 250,000 per acre will be provided to tea and rubber growers for drip irrigation for the first time. Besides, tea cultivation subsidy has been increased from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 750,000 per acre while the subsidy of rubber cultivation per acre is Rs 500,000.