Vavuniya villages to come under cultivation

Nearly 2,160 acres in the 35 resettlement villages in Vavuniya will be under cultivation shortly. Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri has instructed officials in this regard.

In some of these villages the Sinhalese and Muslims expected to be resettled have been permanent residents. They have taken refuge in Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and Medawachchiya where relief villages were established due to LTTE terrorism.

Dimining in the proposed 35 villages have now come to the final phase. It is revealed that 2,160 acres of paddy lands and 1,520 acres of cultivatable lands are available in those villages. These facts were revealed at a resettlement progress meeting held recently at the divisional secretariat in Vavuniya chaired by the Northern Province Governor.

The Governor ordered all Grama Niladharis to take position in the 35 resettlement villages and stressed the necessity to send police squads to examine the shortcomings and report back to him.

The cultivation will begin with the onset of the next monsoonal rains and all cultivatable lands abandoned for the past two decades will be utilised.

Farmers will be given a subsidy of Rs. 4,000 per acre, three bushels of seed paddy and fertilizer free of charge supplemented by machinery supplied by the Government. 35 small irrigation tanks in the 35 villages will also be rehabilitated.

The Governor requested all State officials to seek the assistance of the Security Forces to ensure that all villages are mine free.

SLFP Cheif Organiser for Vavuniya, District Coordinator to the Ministry of Nation Building Premarathna Sumathipala, Security Forces officials and relevant officials participated.