Condemnation of the misleading statement made by Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya on the role of Agriculture Professionals
Posted on June 13th, 2021

Media Release

We, hereby, vehemently condemn the derogatory and misleading remarks made by Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya – who seems to be a consummate politician and is a medical trade union leader – during a recent media release, in which he challenged the Agricultural officers’ knowledge on organic agriculture. Furthermore, we believe that his conduct is highly unethical, unprofessional, and amounts to crossing someone else’s border to a field in which he is not at all an expert. Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, not only shows and challenges his own understanding on agriculture at this vital point, but also dishonours his own professionalism. However, his baseless remarks don’t appear to have had any impact on men and women who are attentively serving in the agricultural sector in the country with a view to making Sri Lanka self-sufficient in food.

We wish to question and challenge Dr. Padeniya’s knowledge as to how he can comment on the knowledge of agricultural specialists on organic agriculture as his immature and irresponsible behaviour may establish a bad precedent for other professionals as well in the country. Therefore, we take this opportunity to categorically condemn the unfounded claims made by a trade union leader against other reputed professionals in order to obtain cheap popular political mileage.

It appears that Dr. Padeniya is unaware of the Green Revolution which occurred in 1950/1960 in the world. During the green revolution, the crop/food production was increased significantly by introducing high-yielding crop varieties (HYVs) which replaced the low yielding traditional varieties. These HYVs, which is grown today across the globe, need chemical fertilizers and pesticides and, otherwise, they do not give the expected yields no matter what measures we take. If we want to stop the use of chemical fertilizers/agrochemicals, we need to have a holistic approach and design an operational model. This cannot be accomplished in a few months/years. We are not surprised to observe that Dr. Padeniya cannot understand simple facts like these as they have no qualification/training what-so-ever in Agriculture. The unscientific and sudden ban of chemical fertilizers/pesticides in the country will undoubtedly push the country to a chaotic situation soon where the prices of food will skyrocket and the poor and vulnerable communities would even starve.

We, hereby, dispute Dr. Padeniya’s baseless allegations inferring that the recommendations made by the agricultural specialists in state agencies/departments are made with a strong bias towards such companies, because the agricultural specialists get direct benefit from chemical fertilizer and pesticide companies. As we clearly described earlier, the present crop varieties cannot simply grow and give anticipated high yields without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In this backdrop, the remarks of Dr. Padeniya are highly deceiving and can mislead the general public, thereby jeopardizing the dignity and integrity of agricultural specialists. Their apparent motive of gaining cheap fame and personal benefits amounts to low-quality and unprofessional ethical wrongdoing. Further, it is pitiful that Dr. Padeniya is deliberately ignoring and tarnishing the good name of agriculture professionals who have guided the Sri Lankan farming community to nourish this proud nation for centuries in the past. According to his misleading statement at a media briefing, all agricultural teaching and training institutes, agriculture faculties, and research institutes in Sri Lanka are no longer necessary. Dr. Padeniya should better understand the difference between “ගොවිතැන” and the science behind agriculture before making false statements about reputable professionals in the country.

We wish to remind him that, at this critical point, the country’s most vulnerable and pressing worry is not the knowledge of agricultural officers on organic agriculture, but the rising COVID-19 pandemic, in which Dr. Padeniya is also deliberately misleading the wider public and concealing the dire situation in his sector. Therefore, we respectfully suggest that he focuses more on COVID-19 pandemic, smoking, drug addiction and the non-communicable disease incidences occurring throughout the country, without making false and unconfirmed references and links to agricultural inputs in relation cancer, CKDu, etc. We believe that he can act more confidently in his designated profession rather than making derogatory remarks on other reputed professions. Further, we would like to ask and invite Dr. Padeniya to accept full responsibility for the country’s possible future food crisis, which may occur in the near future as a result of assertions of this nature, rather than blaming the agricultural professionals who have helped feed the nation for millennia. Finally, we respectfully suggest that Dr. Padeniya devotes more time on his own profession rather than commenting on skills and talents of other professions, thereby, causing problems to the society and destroying his own credibility.

Number Name Designation University
1 Prof. KKIU Arunakumara Professor University of Ruhuna
2 Prof. Buddhi Marambe Professor University of Peradeniya
3 Prof. S Subasinghe Professor University of Ruhuna
4 Prof. Barana Jayawardane Professor University of Peradeniya
5 Prof.  LM Abeywickrama Professor University of Ruhuna
6 Prof. Wasantha Kumara Professor University of Ruhuna
8 Prof. Rohitha Prashanth Professor University of Peradeniya
9 Prof. RMC Deshapriya Professor University of Peradeniya
10 Prof. KDNWeerasinghe Emeritus Professor University of Ruhuna
11 Prof. Saman Herath Professor Uva Wellassa University
12 Prof. AMWK Senevirathna Professor Uva Wellassa University
13 Prof. EDNS Abeyrathne Professor Uva Wellassa University
14 Prof. DKD Darshaka Jayasena Professor Uva Wellassa University
15 Prof. J.K. Vidanarachchi Professor University of Peradeniya
16 Prof. MHJP Gunarathnaa Professor Rajarata University
17 Prof. AW Wijeratne Professor Sabaragamuwa University
18 Prof. Chandrika Dissanayake Professor Sabaragamuwa University
19 Prof. GY Jayasinghe Professor University of Ruhuna
20 Prof. Nalika Ranathunga Professor University of Ruhuna
21 Prof. GC Samaraweera Professor University of Ruhuna
22 Prof. RT Seresinhe Emeritus Professor University of Ruhuna
23 Prof. Indunil Pathirana Professor University of Ruhuna
24 Prof Mahinda Atapattu Professor University of Ruhuna
25 Prof. BC Walpola Professor University of Ruhuna
26 Prof. Champa Navaratne Professor University of Ruhuna
27 Prof. Dulcy Senaratna Professor University of Ruhuna
28 Prof. NMNK Narayana Professor University of Ruhuna
29 Dr. Nilantha Liyanage Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
30 Mrs. Chintha Rupasinghe Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
31 Dr. Menaka Fernando Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
32 Dr. Chandima Gajaweera Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
33 Dr. Jinendra S Balasuriya Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
34 Dr. K Pakeerathan Senior Lecturer University of Jaffna
35 Prof. Kapila G Prematilake Professor Uva Wellassa University
36 Dr. Anurudda Karunarathna Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya
37 Dr. Samantha Dissanayaka Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya
38 Dr. Chammi Attanayake Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya
39 Dr. Jayampathi Ekanayake Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya
40 Dr. Dilini Hemachandra Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya
41 Dr. Prasanna Pradeep Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya
42 Ms. Sewwandi Chandrasekara Lecturer University of Peradeniya
43 Mrs. Bhagya Prabhashini Lecturer University of Ruhuna
44 Ms. Sadeeka Jayasinghe Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
45 Dr. SLD. Amarathunga Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
46 Ms. MK Ranasinghe Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
47 Ms. Anusha Bulumulla Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
48 Dr. MGPP Mahindarathne Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
49 Mr. Sanjaya Fernando Senior Lecturer Rajarata University
50 Dr. Niluka Nakandala Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
51 Ms. VP Ellepola Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
52 Dr. Ewon Kaliyadasa Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
53 Dr. Kurukulasuriya Senior Lecturer Uva Wellasa University
54 Ms. Achala Alakolanga Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
55 Dr. AD Ampitiyawatta Senior Lecturer Sabaragamuwa University
56 Ms. AM Samaraweera Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
57 Ms. CHM Banagala Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
58 Mr. PP Ruwanpathirana Lecturer University of Ruhuna
59 Ms. KGBA Samarasinghe Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
60 Mrs. MKTK Amarasinghe Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
61 Ms. Chamari Coswatte Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
62 Ms. NM Wijesundara Lecturer Uva Wellassa university
63 Dr. Deshani C Mudannayake Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
64 Ms. JMDR Jayawardana Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
65 Ms. Gayathri Rathnayake Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
66 Dr. SD Rathnayaka Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
67 Dr. Chaminda Egodawatta Senior Lecturer Rajarata  University 
68 Dr. JBDAP Kumara Senior Lecturer Sabaragamuwa University
69 Dr. Nishani Abesinghe Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
70 Mr. Namal Ranaweera Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
71 Ms. RAAS Rathnayaka Lecturer Rajarata University
72 Dr. Thusitha Amarasekara Senior Lecturer Rajarata University
73 Dr. UGAI Sirisena Senior Lecturer Rajarata University
74 Prof. NY Hirimuthugoda Professor University of Ruhuna
75 Dr. RMH Tharangani Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
76 Mr. Ishara Wijesinghe Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
77 Prof. WAJP Wijesinghe Professor Uva Wellassa University
78 Dr. BVASM Bambaranda Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
79 Dr. C Ranawana Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
80 Dr. NS Abeysingha Senior Lecturer Rajarata University 
81 Prof. Anton Perara Professor University of Ruhuna
82 Dr. Thusitha Weerasooriya Senior Lecturer Rajarata University
83 Ms. AMC Amarakoon Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
84 Dr. GD Kapila Kumara Senior Lecturer Sabaragamuwa University
85 Dr. Sumali Dissanayake Senior Lecturer Rajarata University
86 Dr. Chamila Weerakoon Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
87 Prof. AL Sandika Professor University of Ruhuna
88 Prof. Achini De Silva Professor Sabaragamuwa University
89 Ms. T Sudini R Fernando Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
90 Dr.  DMSH Dissanayaka Senior Lecturer Rajarata University
91 Dr. MAAP Kumari   Senior Lecturer Rajarata University
92 Ms. NE Wedamulla Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
93 Dr. M Esham Professor Sabaragamuwa University
94 Dr. MWACS Wijetunga Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
95 Mr. WTL Fonseka Lecturer University of Ruhuna
96 Dr. Dananjali Gamage   Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
97 Dr. KNN Silva   Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
98 Ms. Madhushika Perera   Lecturer University of Ruhuna
99 Dr. Aruni Wickramaratne   Senior Lecturer University of Ruhuna
100 Dr. MPM Arachchige   Senior Lecturer Uva Wellassa University
101 Prof. HSR Rosairo   Professor Sabaragamuwa University
102 Dr. Mojith Ariyarathne Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya
103 Dr. Warshi Dandeniya Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya
104 Dr. Saman Athauda Senior Lecturer University of Peradeniya

One Response to “Condemnation of the misleading statement made by Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya on the role of Agriculture Professionals”

  1. NeelaMahaYoda Says:

    Problem is with the president. Padeniya is one of the supporters. It is very unfortunate that one man is geven full responsibility for deciding the fate of our Agroeconomy. As someone said in the internet it is almost like යන මළ යකා කොරහත් බිඳගෙන යන්නේ.

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