Colombo, May 16 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lanka is looking at the possibility of controlling droughts and floods through the use of Chinese Technology,  the local Daily Mirror, quoting Minister of Primary Industries and Social Welfare, Daya Gamage, said Wednesday.

Speaking at the signing of project agreements under the World Bank aided Agriculture Sector Modernization programme in capital Colombo, Gamage said the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka could contribute to the country’s overall economic growth if it is able to stop droughts and floods just like it is done in China.

He said experts from the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences had already carried out a study on the formation of clouds above Sri Lanka and the findings will be handed over to the government soon.

“Sri Lanka could earn more export revenue from crops such as cinnamon and ginger if such new industries are developed,” the Minister said.

“We can learn from China,” he added.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking at the event stressed the need for modernizing Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector in order to make it a stable industry. “Many countries such as USA and East Asian nations have modernized the agriculture industry though it has not been done in South Asia,” Wickremesinghe said.

The Prime Minister added that modernizing rural agriculture was essential as such a growth would help improve the rural economy, which in turn would strengthen the country’s economy.

The Disaster Management Center, in its latest report said that over 600,000 people remained affected by severe drought in at least 11 districts of the island country due to the lack of rains.

DMC Spokesperson, Pradeep Kodippili said people had been affected in terms of scarcity of drinking water and crop failures.