July 22, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has assured that his government will take necessary measures to preserve the independence of country's judiciary as it is obligated to preserve and uphold the law of the country to its utmost capability.

Participating in the Agricultural Department's Centenary Exhibition at the Agro Technology Park in Gannoruwa in Kandy today, the President said the country cannot be governed in the absence of a proper judiciary referring to the incident that rattled the country's judiciary last week with an attack on the Mannar court complex and an alleged threat on the magistrate by a government minister.

The President has expressed concern that a member of his cabinet had come under suspicion by the countries judicial system.

President Rajapaksa was the chief guest at today's exhibition which is showcasing the country's development in the agriculture sector.

The National Agriculture Exhibition and famers' week 2012, organized to mark the centenary of the Agriculture Department is being held from July 20 - 25.

The exhibition, spread in a land area of 80 acres with over 200 display stalls, features machinery and new inventions in the agro-Industry including new seed and plant varieties.

State institutions have displays in 98 stalls while the private sector maintains 109 stalls. Various crops have been cultivated within the exhibition premises.

Meanwhile, the government announced that it has allocated Rs.2.2 billion to provide relief to drought-stricken farmers, mainly in North Central Province and Mannar, Kurunegala and other adjacent districts under a programme initiated by the President.

Farmers in these areas will receive a monthly allowance to compensate for losses while the government will build more agro-wells in the agricultural areas to avoid future losses due to drought conditions.

Governor of Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister Johnston Fernando, Deputy Ministers Abdul Cader, Earl Gunasekera, MP Eric Weerawardena and officials of the Agriculture Department also participated in the occasion.

(Photos by Chandana Perera)