COLOMBO (News 1st); In what is the latest in a series of high-profile resignations, Dr. Jatal Mannapperuma, the Chairman of Paddy Marketing Board has tendered in his resignation to Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage on Tuesday (14).

The acclaimed academic, speaking to News 1st noted that he resigned as he felt implementing decisions taken by those above him was ‘unwise’.

He added that he could not, with a clear conscience, be happy with backing such imprudent decisions.

The Paddy Marketing Board comes under Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and State Minister Shashindra Rajapakse.

The Board is responsible for the purchase, sale and supply of grain products and maintaining distribution activities. The Paddy Board must also ensure buffer stocks are maintained in order to ensure food security.

In early September, Dr. Asoka Gunaratne stepped down from the Intercollegiate Technical Committee of the Director-General of Health Services.

Before that, Senior Consultant Physician attached to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama resigned from the same committee, noting that decisions taken by the said committee are not the decisions that were being implemented.

More recently, Ishini Wickramasinghe stepped down as the Director-General of the National Zoological Gardens in what is widely believed to be a move in protest of the return of elephants at a protection zone to their former owners.

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