Local production, remedy for food crisis - Divisional Secretary

H.M. Abeysinghe - Kuliyapitiya Group Corr.

Sri Lanka could stand firmly before the global economic depression and food crisis as the Government has promoted local products. Vidatha encourages the utilization of our resources to produce value added products, Kuliyapitiya Divisional Secretary A.D. Amarasiri said.

The Divisional Secretary said the theme of Mahinda Chinthana is building up the national economy. The contribution of Vidatha to meet that end is remarkable.

Quality goods will have a good demand, he said.

Natural resources are in abundance throughout the country. Sri Lanka is an underdeveloped country as our resources were not properly utilised, Deputy Principal, Kuliyapitiya Vidya Vinoda Pirivena Venerable Pelawatte Sangharathna Thera said.

The Thera was delivering an Anusasana at a ceremony to mark the opening of Kurunegala District Vidatha Exhibition in Kuliyapitiya Town Hall recently.

"Our leaders were unable to identify the value of our geographical and natural resources. Majority were not rooted here. However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is rooted in the Lankan soil. So he had realised the value of our resources and planned to build up an indigenous economy promoting local products. Vidatha is the foundation of that promotion," he added.

Kurunegala District Vidatha Co-ordinator Maheepala Herath said the aim of Vidatha is to absorb modern technology into our conventional technology to utilise our neglected resources to produce value added products. Dried vegetables, fruits, jack and bread fruit is a profitable enterprise introduced under Vidatha.

Hundreds of village youth have started such ventures. Those dried products are exported. They earn a good income. It was Vidatha that helped them enter the business.

Additional Divisional Secretary Panduwasnuwara West D.M.A. Disanayake and the Chairman, Kuliyapitiya PS Sampath Ketawelagedara also spoke.