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Praise all around for jak planting project

by Ratnapura district special correspondent

The university community and the media together shouldered a national task in launching the jak planting project, said Silumina Chief Editor and Jak Planting Project President Thilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara.

Speaking at a jak planting ceremony at the Sabaragamuwa University, he said newspapers should not be politically motivated and neither it should be a saleable commodity.

The media has a wider role to play in the interest of the society. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd launched the jak planting project with a sense of national responsibility. Planting a jak seedling would not suffice, but it has to be cared for, he added.

Three hundred jak seedlings were planted by university staff and students. "Our traditional values have inculcated in us the virtue of living within our resources, without getting indebted. However, the present consumerist society has undone this practice. Jak is a nuitritious fruit, only second to the staple diet rice. The unique feature in jak planting is that no chemical fertiliser is used for its growth," he said.

ANCL Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary Jak Planting Project, Sarath Amarakoon said the project transcends barriers of colour, race and other differences.

"It has the blessings of both the government and the opposition. The National Lotteries Board has also extended its patronage. Although the eventual target of the project was to plant 100,000 seedlings, we were able to realise it within the first month. This enterprise is purely non-profit oriented. By now we have successfully completed over 20 stages of the project," he said. Vice Chancellor T.K. Perera commended the jak planting project launched by Lake House.

"Today the country has realised the importance of jak as a substitute for the main diet. We are duty-bound to protect the plant till it grows to its full stature," he said. Sunil Senavi, senior lecturer, Social Studies and Languages pledged his fullest co-operation for the project.

Lecturer E.U. Senarath also spoke.

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