Hadabima Authority will be shut down, says Minister K. D. Lal Kantha

The Sri Lanka Hadabima Authority is decided to be closed down, Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K. D. Lal Kantha says.

The Minister says this decision was taken under the programme to re-manage state institutions.

He said this at a ceremony held today at the Sahas Uyana premises in Kandy to brief Samurdhi officers serving in the Kandy and Matale districts on community empowerment.

The Minister said certain institutions started based on requirements that arose at various times, and continuing to maintain them after those requirements are met became a huge burden to the country.

Therefore, under the re-management of state institutions to suit the present day, a decision was taken to close down some institutions and merge others, he added.

The Minister also said that even if outdated state institutions that are a burden to the country are closed down, institutions that can perform useful work for the country, like the Samurdhi Development Department, will continue to be maintained.

He noted that when the National People's Power came to power, the minimum wage of the public service stood at 24,250.00 rupees, but today it is raised to 40,000.00 rupees, and such a salary increment was made at a time when there was no demand from public servants for it.

The Minister emphasised that the salary increment was made from the very first budget presented after coming to power, and although it is said there is a surplus in the public service, there is a severe shortage of employees in certain essential services, and recruitments are being made for those vacancies.

The Minister also mentioned that no one in the public service receives salaries from the public, but they receive a salary for the labour they exert.

He said the policy of the current government is to involve everyone in the economic process and provide them with an economic share that matches their labour.

Rural Development and Social Empowerment Minister Upali Pannila also participated in the event.