Hadabima Authority helps ‘Grow More Food’ drive

Sanjaya Asela Maturata

‘Realising that the present Government will usher in lasting peace and economic prosperity to the country during its present term of office Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying hard to topple it prematurely through devious means.

The Government will not allow him to realise his dreams by frittering away vital funds on an unnecessary snap general election at this hour, said Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa.

Kobbekaduwa said so addressing a meeting held at Motana-Dekinda in the Yatinuwara electorate to mark the distribution of financial assistance, agricultural implements and seed paddy among farmers in the area under a programme organised by the Sri Lanka Hadabima Authority in support of the Government’s indigenous food production drive.

Kobbekaduwa said this was the first time in its 25-year history that the Hadabima Authority had undertaken a programme of this nature to strengthen the farmer and uplift the national economy. The Authority had selected five Grama Niladhari Divisions in Yatinuwara for the implementation of its development programmes.

The programmes launched by the Hadabima Authority would not only provide a market for farmer produce but also enable them to overcome day-to-day problems by growing their own food.

Kobbekaduwa said that when the Government had devised ways and means to solve people’s economic and other problems after properly grasping them the UNP without supporting such efforts as a responsible opposition was trying to mislead the people and win them over to its side.

Kobbekaduwa said the country had spent Rs. 2.5 million foreign exchange last year for the import of ginger which could easily be grown in this country.

It was a national crime for us to spend money unnecessarily to import things we could grow ourselves. Hadabima Authority Chairman Nandasena Herath, Executive Director Wijeratne Sakalasuriya and Yatinuwara Divisional Secretary W.M. Wickramaratna also spoke.