To make country self-sufficient in agriculture:

DS rendered yeoman service

Ananda KANNANGARA

Former Media Minister Imthiyas Bakeer Markar on Tuesday highlighted the massive agricultural drive, launched by the late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake to make the country self-sufficient in agriculture and embraced the word `Agriculture' as his only motto.

He was speaking at the D.S Senanayake commemorative meeting held opposite the D.S. Senanyake statue at the Independence Square to coincide with the 125th birth anniversary of late Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake.

The former Minister said the late Premier knew the importance of developing the agricultural sector in the country and he travelled extensively in agricultural areas to look into the needs and grievances of the farmer community. "During his tenure in the State Council, he brought a number of important Acts such as the Land Act, the Education Act and the most important Health Act for the benefit of village folk."

He said if we were able to carry forward the agricultural policies of the former Premier, then our country would have been self-sufficient in all agricultural products by today.

He said in addition, the late Premier had a dream of narrowing the gap between all ethnic groups, the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burgers and Malays and treated them as the members of one family.

"D.S. Senanayake gave the correct place to a person, irrespective of his ethnicity and the due place given to Sir Ponnambalam is a fine example to this."

Referring to several foreign leaders, he said Mahatma Gandhi of India, Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Mohommed Ali Jinnah of Pakistan also bridged the gap between ethnic groups in their own countries and treated them as members of the same family.

The former Minister also mentioned that the present day generation must be educated about the sacrifices made by D.S. Senanayake and other leaders to free the country from foreign rule.

Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara, Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana, MPs Rukman Senanayake, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Ravi Karunanayaka and former MP Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku were also present.