‘Bata Atha farm a tribute to Ruhuna farmers’
Raja Waidyasekera Tissamaharama special
correspondent
The Bata Atha agro technological farm was set up as a tribute to the
farmers of Ruhunu Magam Pattu, said the Minister of Ports and Aviation
Chamal Rajapaksa.
The Minister was addressing a meeting at Siyabalaheddewa in
Weeraketiya DS area that followed the opening of several common
amenities including a housing scheme set up by the Southern Development
Authority (SDA) under the Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma programme. Rs.
3,197,037.80 were spent for the projects.
The Minister said that the farmer community is the lifeblood of the
nation and that it is the community that produces the staple food, rice.
They are an asset and a legacy for a nation. We provide them
necessary facilities and protect them like precious gems.
He said the farming community has a lot of things to learn from the
agro technology farm at Bata Atha. I request them to visit it in order
to learn the latest technology in farming.
The Minister said late D. A. Rajapaksa was instrumental in setting up
the Chandrikawewa reservoir at Embilipitiya. That was also a tribute for
the farming community.
He said 4,000 villages are being developed in Sri Lanka under the
Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma programme. The SDA has been entrusted with
several villages under the programme in Hambantota district.
The Minister said President Mahinda Rajapaksa became President in
2005. He is a leader with farsighted policies as such the people decided
to elect him President.
He said President’s farsightedness has brought the NE conflict almost
to an end. The cost of living has risen as a result of a colossal sum of
money spent in this endeavour.
The Minister said the people of Deduru Oya grow gotukola and earn a
substantial income from it.
They export them to America through an agency. In America they
convert gotu kola into powder and tablets and export them to Sri Lanka.
Ranjith Gunasekera Chairman and Director General SDA said that the
Siyabalaheddewa village is an underdeveloped village which was known to
him since 1970.
A period of transition has occurred in the village with projects
implemented under the Jathika Saviya Maga Neguma programme.
He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is familiar with the less
fortunate downtrodden masses implements development programmes to
elevate them to the status of the haves.
The Minister said we summoned the Jana Sabha to identify the
priorities that need development in the village of Siyabalaheddewa. We
as SDA utilised funds provided to us for fruitful purposes and the
people reap the benefits of it.
The Chief Coordinating Secretary to the President Upul Dissanayaka,
Coordinator to the President Wasantha Gunasekera, SPC Minister V. K.
Indika and SPC Chairman Somawansa Kodagoda were present.
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