|
Ranbimba land title deeds presented:
Cultivate more local crops - Speaker
Rasika Somarathna and Raja Wadyasekera
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa who handed over 1,500 Ranbima land title
deeds among landless people Saturday, called on them to manage their
lands productively to simultaneously enhance their livelihoods and
increase contribution to national agricultural output.
During the eight stage of the Ranbima title deed presentation held at
Hambantota, over 1,500 landless people from Kalutara, Galle, Matara,
Hambantota and Moneragala received title deeds. The event was organized
by the Land Reform Commission (LRC).
The Speaker urged recipients of land deeds to cultivate more local
crops in their lands to meet both their needs and the country�s.
He said that incidents like the scarcity of coconuts could have been
alleviated if land owners used their lands more prudently. He told the
land recipients to grow at least one coconut sapling in their gardens.
The Speaker pointed out to the gathering that the country�s policy on
land distribution had changed with the change of Governments in the
country.
He said that it was the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Hector
Kobbekaduwa who had initiated the distribution of state land (after
acquiring them) among the landless people of the country.
However, the LRC is conducting the distribution of state land among
the landless in an organized manner, he added.
The Speaker also emphasized on the need to grow different varieties
of crops in accordance with the climatic, soil and other variations
prevailing in any given area. He added that the Government should
provide knowledge and assistance to farmers in this regard.
He said that encouraging agriculture produce would eventually help
bring down the cost of living.
Ministers Bandula Gunawardena and Jagath Pushpakumara, Southern Chief
Minister Shan Wijeyalal de Silva, LRC Director General Harigupta
Rohandeera and LRC Chairman Nimal G Punchihewa also spoke.
Parliamentarians Kamala Ranatunga and V K Indika were also present. |
