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| Monday, 8 March 2004 |
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| PM pledges to strengthen rural economy from Bharatha Malawaraarachchi in Hanguranketha Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday pledged to further strengthen the country's rural economy by laying special emphasis on improving the agriculture sector. "We have already implemented several plans and programs to ensure a competitive price for our farmers' agricultural products. This has greatly helped boost the rural economy", he told election rallies in Hanguranketha and Passara. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said he had made arrangements to increase paddy farmers income. He pledged to ensure more marketing facilities for paddy farmers to sell their produce at a competitive price. "We are planning to resolve the remaining problems and difficulties faced by farmers in selling their agricultural produce," the Prime Minister assured. He also emphasised the necessity of cultivating agricultural produce which could compete in the global market. "Within the next five years, we must focus on cultivating agricultural crops which could compete in the global market. I have already instructed the Minister of Agriculture in this regard", the Prime Minister added. Outlining the importance of assisting farmers to obtain modern technical know-how, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said a new airport will also be constructed in Wellawaya to further help farmers to export their agricultural produce. He said steps have been taken to seek technical support and expert knowledge from Thailand, China and India to improve the agriculture sector. "Japan has expressed willingness to extend their support. We have already allocated funds to help the farming community," he said. He said measures have been taken to provide irrigational facilities for the required areas. "At the same, attention have been taken and programs are under way to rehabilitate tanks for utilising for the agricultural purposes, animal husbandry will also be improved," the Prime Minister said. Earlier, the Prime Minister recalled how the country's rural economy collapsed during the previous PA regime. "Due to the poor policies of that regime, the rural economy was greatly affected and as a result, people living in the village had to undergo severe hardships," he said. The Prime Minister explained how the farming community at the village level were affected due to the unplanned import policies of the PA regime. "Potatoe farmers in the upcountry and chilly farmers in Rajarata faced severe difficulties in selling their produce as those items came freely to the country", he said. "Everything was imported. The agriculture-based economy collapsed and farmers were indebted." The Prime Minister emphasised that money should flow into the villages to see an improvement in the economy. "After coming into power, we took a number of measures to improve the rural economy," he said. The Prime Minister explained the tariff and import tax imposed on agricultural items being imported to the country by the Government. "These measures have helped farmers to obtain a competitive price for their produce. Again money went into the villages - rural economy saw an improvement during the last two years. "At the same time, we took steps to establish a peaceful atmosphere in the country. We were able to stop the village youth killed in the war,", he said. The Prime Minister noted that the Parliament was dissolved at a time when the Government was taking steps to improve the other sectors of the economy such as tourism and industry. The Prime Minister called on the people to extend a strong mandate to the UNF to form a stable Government to fulfil the people's aspirations. "I urge you to vote for the UNF if you want to improve the rural economy, bring money to the village and ensure a lasting peace and prosperity", the Prime Minister added. Minister and Nuwara-Eliya District UNF Group Leader S. B. Dissanayake said the UNF will achieve a clear victory at the general election. "We will be able to secure victory at almost every district except one. The UNF can easily win this election", he said. Dissanayake said the political crisis is mainly due to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's desire to remain in power forever. "But she won't be able to win this election as people still have confidence in the UNF, which rebuilt the country during the last two years", he said. Dissanayake said the President almost ruined the country. "Her lack of vision and poor policies greatly affected the country's future growth," he added. |
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