Touchwood plants 200,000 saplings
Ramani Kangaraarachchi and Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
Touchwood, the only agro forestation company in Sri Lanka was the
biggest contributor from the private sector at yesterday’s massive tree
planting campaign the Government embarked on to mark the beginning of
the second term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Touchwood General Manager Channa Abeygunawardena told Daily News
Business the total value of these trees in 15 years will be Rs 100
billion.
The company has planted 200,000 high value species such as Mahogani,
Sandalwood, Jatropha and coconut in five districts including a 300 acre
land in Girandurukotte.
One thousand five hundred people completed planting 100,000 plants in
this land within 11 minutes.
The plants will be taken care of by the company giving employment
opportunities to over 200 people he said. Sri Lanka is an agricultural
country and the tree planting campaign that began yesterday with the
planting of 1.1 million trees is timely and valuable. This effort will
encourage people to engage in tree planting which will benefit the
country, National Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka President Lal de Alwis
said.
“Sri Lanka could preserve the green environment that has become a
tourist attraction. The environmental effect of the trees is vital for
the socio development of the country. This is the first time that a
campaign of this nature is conducted and is will promote tree planting
as a national habit,” he said.
There is a great opportunity in the North and the East to maintain a
greener environment and measures to plant trees in these areas will
motivate the farmer community. This could also stimulate people’s
interest. This move will enable Sri Lanka to become a green country.
The campaign should not end in a day. The tree planting should be
carried out continually in time to come. The trees planted should be
looked after carefully and progress monitored. The campaign is sensible
and brings economic benefits to the country, de Alwis said. |