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Farmers' children should participate in agriculture with their parents - Asgiriya Maha Nayake

J. Gunadasa Jayawickreme

Two irrigation networks Athuparayaya irrigating about 850 acres fed by 8 canals and Welamitiyawa about 700 acres fed by 13 canals were commissioned by Asgiriya Chapter Maha Nayaka Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera. Matale Regional Economic Advancement Project (REAP) spent Rs. 10,550,000 and Rangiri Dambulla Temple Development Foundation spent Rs. 5,200,000 for the renovation of the canals that were in a very dilapidated condition for over a decade.

The Maha Nayake unveiled a plaque and opened the water control wheel in front of the farmers and their family members gathered on either side of the canals, and a minute's after Mahaveli water gushed through sluice-gates to the canal network resulting a loud ovation by the people. Mahasangha performed Buddhist rites and all assembled conducted a few minutes meditation of compassion.

Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thera chief incumbent of Uyanwatte Viharaya and care-taker of Rangiri Dambulla temple as well as the chairperson of Welamitiyawa and Athuparayaya farmers' organisations, Ven. Daniyagama Ananda Thera head of Pidurangala Kassapa Pirivena, Ven. Aluthgama Upananda Thera chief incumbent of Athuparayaya temple and several other Buddhist priests, REAP senior executive officer W. W. P. W. M. R. Wijesundara, resident engineer of the Central Engineering Consulting Bureau, E. M. Rathnayake and several other public officers and many farmers of the area were present on this occasion.

Asgiri Mahanayake Thera delivering a special Anusasana told that farmers in both areas had to face many hardships because the irrigation networks feeding their paddy fields were in a very bad shape. The government authorities did not respond to the plea of the farmers. Those farmers provided rice to Rangiri Dambulla temple to perform Buddha pooja and Deva pooja as well as to feed the incumbent priests. Maha Nayaka Thera commended the leadership given by Ven. Sumangala Thera to organise the farmers and to muster support for their cause. He was able to negotiate foreign funds and to manage utilising those funds properly to update the irrigation networks.

The Head of the Asgiriya chapter urged the farmers to preserve the canals and other constructions as their children. He recommended them to use the indigenous cultivation systems that preserved the mud and fertility in the soil. He also said that farmers' children should learn modern subjects and gather advanced knowledge and at the same time they should participate in agriculture with their parents whenever possible.

There were several meetings convened by the Ministry of Mahaveli Development. Ven. Sumangala Thera did not miss any of those meetings. Then Mahaveli Minister Gamini Dissanayake responded to the request of Ven. Sumangala Thera and recommended to issue Mahaveli water to Athuparayaya paddy fields.

When one problem was solved another problem surfaced. There was a list of prospective farmers earmarked to receive lands at Athuparayaya. That list prepared at the Matale Kachcheri consisted of some people included on political grounds leaving behind genuine farmers who had done the ground works to clear the shrub jungle and prepare the paddy fields.

The Thera used his influence and with the support of some reasonable officers the farmers' rights were restored. Concluding his Anusasanawa the Thera commended the support extended by former REAP Director Anura Dissanayake currently employed in USA, for granting Rs. 10,550,000 to rebuild the Athuparayaya irrigation network.

Internal auditor of Athuparayaya farmers' society M. S. S. M. Karunarathne Banda, secretary D. C. Perera and several others also spoke. 

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