Vap Magul in North

Lakshmi DE SILVA

The traditional vap magul ceremony for the start of the Maha season paddy cultivation in Thunukkai area of the North was conducted by Northern Province Governor G.A Chandrasiri yesterday.

This season, a stretch of 4,000 acre paddy land that remained fallow for several years will be cultivated, official sources in the North said yesterday. Under the Vadikkin Vasantham rehabilitation program of the North the resettled farmer families were given two bushels of seed paddy per acre up to four acres, 70 water pumps, sprayers. coconut seedlings, jak seedlings, banana suckers and other fruit plants, a spokesperson from the Governor's office told Daily News yesterday.

The families were also given poultry stock to help upgrade their income and living conditions. Disabled people were given crutches and wheel chairs.