Govt dedicated to serve masses - Agriculture Minister

COLOMBO: As a responsible Government we cannot neglect the country's development process in fear of terrorism. Our Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is dauntlessly dedicated to discharge our duties towards the masses, assured Agriculture, Irrigation, Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister Maitripala Sirisena.

Minister Maitripala Sirisena gave this assurance when he addressed a ceremony to inaugurate a project of planting tissue culture Bamboo trees along the banks of the Mahaweli river held at Naranwita, Doluwa, Gampola recently.

Addressing the gathering the Minister said, this project under Chinese aid of USD 1.7 million was first organised during the SLFP regime of 2001 but was scoffed at and not implemented by the Government who succeeded.

Bamboo plantation projects have been implemented in many countries including China as a lucrative industry as I have observed in a recent tour of China.

They have produced many items and even some garments each worth about Rs. 25,000 in our currency.

This bamboo plantation launched under the Mahaweli Authority which will cover 141 kilometres in its first stage will in addition conserve the Mahaweli bank from soil erosion, the Minister pointed out.

Posts and Telecommunications, Rural Economic Promotion Minister D. M. Jayaratne also spoke on the occasion which was attended by Mahaweli Ministry Secretary T. M. Abeywickrema, Environment Ministry Secretary Jayalath Ravi Dissanayake and Mahaweli Authority Director General Ivon Silva.