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Program to revive Kithul industry - Minister Kiriella

From Ginigathena special correspondent - G. A. Gunasena

My Ministry has initiated a program of regenerating the Kithul industry of this country with a view to improving our rural economy, said the Minister of Plantation Industries Lakshman Kiriella.

He was speaking at a public meeting after opening a purchasing centre for Kithul treacle and jaggery at Jambutenna, Hangarapitiya in the Ambagamuwa (Ginigathena) Divisional Secretariat area in the Nuwara Eliya district recently.

The Minister said that although the people of Jaffna had the right to carry out the palmyra industry and the people of the Southern Province have the legal permission to engage in the coconut industry.

But the problem the people of the Central hills have to face is that they don't have legal permission to carry out the Kithul industry, he said.

We argue over this matter even in the Parliament. However I would like to mention that in future our government will give the legal permission for the rural people of the hill country to carry out the Kithul industry.

When the ancient kings ruled this country, its rural economy was so strong unlike today. Therefore we have to stabilise the deteriorated rural economy of this country, he said.

That is why the present UNF government created a separate Ministry of Rural Economy with a view to improving the rural economy of the island.

Through the Kithul development project initiated by our Ministry of Plantation Industries the rural people of the hill country will be able not only to produce Kithul treacle and jaggery but also to raise their economy through it, the Minister said.

The Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake said that the new Kithul Development project was a brainchild of the Minister Lakshman Kiriella.

Our Ministry has already set aside a sum of Rs. 20,000,000 for its Kithul Development Project, under which the rural people of the Kithul growing areas in the island will be able to produce Kithul treacle and jaggery and get a proper income.

If we can find a good market for such Kithul products, it will pave the way for such Kithul producers to strengthen their economy, he said.

Dissanayake said our program of developing the Kithul industry will be a solution for the unemployment problem of the country to a certain standard. That is why our Ministry started this Kithul development project.

"I would like to mention that our ministry will take every possible step to make the newly started Kithul development project a success, the Deputy Minister said.

Asst. Commissioner of Co-operative Development in the Central Province V. Lokubandara and Asst. Div. Secretary of Ambagamuwa Korale Mrs. Mallika Amarasekera also spoke.

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