Before year's end:

New Agrarian Services Act in House

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament yesterday the new Agrarian Services Act which includes a series of new rules and regulations to safeguard the tenant farmers will be presented to Parliament before the end of this year.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Attorney General to expedite the drafting of this new Bill and submit it to the Cabinet, he said. The Government intends to submit 16 urgent Bills for Parliamentary approval before the end of this year.

The Minister said the new Agrarian Services Act has laid key emphasis on country's tenant farmers and develop the agriculture sector as well.

"This new Agrarian Services Act will completely eliminate the injustices caused by the tenant farmers. The new Act includes series of new regulations to uplift the socio-economic conditions of tenant farmers.

"At present the Opposition during its election campaign in the South is making a big voice about tenant farmers. But I request the Opposition not to mislead the public on this issue of tenant farmers by making various irresponsible statements.

"The Opposition should realise that it was the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Government which first took steps in 1956 to safeguard the country's tenant farmers through a special Bill submitted to Parliament by then Agriculture Minister Philip Gunawardene."