A training program and appointment ceremony for officers authorized to manage Parthenium weed under the Plant Protection Act No. 35 of 1999 was conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Northern Province, on 7th November 2025 at the District Agricultural Training Centre, Thirunelvely. The event was held under the chairmanship of Mrs. S. Senthilkumaran, Provincial Director of Agriculture, Northern Province.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Province, Mr. S. Sivasri, attended the event as the Chief Guest and delivered a special address. The program was also attended by the Additional Provincial Director of Agriculture (Northern Province), the Deputy Director of Agriculture (Jaffna), and the Agricultural Monitoring Officer (Jaffna).
The training sessions were conducted by Mr. Kithsiri Kematathne (Attorney-at-Law) from the Ministry of Agriculture, together with officials from the National Plant Quarantine Service, Peradeniya, including Deputy Directors of Agriculture, Assistant Directors of Agriculture, and other technical officers.
A total of 64 officers, including Irrigation Department officers, Development Officers, Livestock Development Instructors, Agrarian Development Officers, and Grama Niladhari Officers, participated in the program. Appointment letters were formally issued to all the trained officers authorizing them to carry out Parthenium weed control activities in their respective areas.
