Moragahakanda project will be completed expeditiously - Minister Sirisena

Sarath WELAGEDARA - Elahera group correspondent

The Moragahakanda Reservoir project would be completed expeditiously and irrigation facilities provided to cultivate both, the yala and maha seasons, said Agriculture and Agrarian Services Minister, Maithreepala Sirisena addressing a meeting at Bakamuna Town. The event was organised by the Bakamuna Agrarian Services office.

The Minister said, the Moragahakanda project inaugurated by President, Mahinda Rajapaksa is moving ahead at a rapid pace, despite the UNP’s claim that it would take forty years to be completed.

The President’s indigenous food drive scheme is progressing islandwide. It is expected to be completed by 2010.

Our country is prominently agriculture-based but only 70 per cent are engaged in paddy cultivation; 45 per cent cultivate subsidiary crops. People have got accustomed to imported items in preference to local ones.

“By 2010 import of food items will be completely banned” the minister warned.

Since 1949 the indigenous food drive was given priority under the regime of D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike as well. The UNP along with JVP indulged in many things to the detriment of the paddy farmer.

A colossal amount has to be allocated to the fertiliser subsidy which will never be done away with despite false propaganda spread by the UNP.

The minister added, a solution to problems confronting the Mahaweli farmer would be provided within two weeks, he concluded.

Minister Sirisena handed over sprayers, seed packets and fruit saplings to Mahaweli cultivators.