Minister of Agriculture K.D. Lal Kantha stated that he never aspired to become a Member of Parliament or a minister, but accepted the role out of a sense of duty to uplift the country’s struggling farming community, following a request from President Anura Dissanayake.
Speaking at a recent public meeting, Lal Kantha explained that while he had contested the last general election from Nuwara Eliya, his intention was not to win a seat for personal gain but to make a meaningful contribution to the political process. “I didn’t contest to become an MP just for the sake of it. I wanted to prove that I could win without having a position in mind,” he said.
He noted that his close engagement with the people led to increasing public pressure for him to officially enter politics. “Eventually, I couldn’t stay away. People expected me to step forward, and I did,” he added.
Even after winning a seat, Lal Kantha said he had considered stepping aside to allow someone from the grassroots level to enter Parliament. However, President Anura Dissanayake later asked him to accept the Agriculture Ministry, which also oversees irrigation, land, and Mahaweli development. “He told me, ‘Lala, commit to this for five years.’ I couldn’t say no,” the minister said.
Lal Kantha stressed that his decision was driven purely by a desire to improve the agriculture sector and support rural farmers. He emphasized the need to rebuild the eroded foundations of Sri Lanka’s agricultural system, which once thrived on strong structures like irrigation networks.
He also acknowledged the support of State Minister Namal Rajapaksa and another state minister in handling key areas such as irrigation and land, saying strong leadership is now in place to drive meaningful reforms.
Addressing the plight of farmers, Lal Kantha highlighted the importance of lifting rural communities out of poverty. Citing a recent sermon by Buddhist monks on the hardships faced by farmers, he said, “We have launched a coordinated mission to end farmer poverty. All our departments are united in this effort.”
“Our ultimate goal,” he concluded, “is to remove the label of ‘poor farmer’ from this country. That’s the mission we’re committed to.”
