Silawatura cashew cultivation replanted after 20 years

Dinesh DE ALWIS

Sri Lanka's largest cashew cultivation land in Silawathura has been re-planted after 20 years by the Civil Defence Force (CDF) under the guidance of Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka's largest cashew cultivation which spread through 6,444 acres of land at Kondaichchi in Silawathura was abandoned and deserted after the LTTE control of it in 1990.

Under the the first phase,500 acres of land has been cleared and 20,000 cashew plants have been re-planted on December 1.

CDF Director General Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris said that the CDF has launched 88 projects throughout the country and the aim of those projects are to assist the country's development process effectively.

The Kondaichchi Cashew Cultivation Project will be a good income generating project.

It consists of three phases and the CDF has currently deployed 2,000 personnel for the project, he said.

"After four years we can collect the harvest. The cashew harvest was about 660 tons per season in the past.

"We didn't request for funds from the Government.

"The MoD,Army,Navy and Cashew Corporation are giving their support to us", he said.

"During the last 20 years the LTTE controlled this area. All cashew plants were destroyed. People lost their jobs. We should develop the infrastructure in the area to promote the industry. The project will generate thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities for the people in the area" said North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake.

MoD additional Secretary Jayantha Wickramaratne,Colonel Nihal Samarakoon and several officers of the Tri-Forces were present.