President at N’Eliya UPFA District conference:
Fertilizer subsidy to all farmers
Rasika SOMARATHNA in Nuwara Eliya
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that the Government would
take steps to provide subsidized fertilizer to all farmers.
“At present the Government provides subsidized fertilizer to paddy,
rubber, coconut and tea growers. I have instructed officials to extend
the facility to vegetable cultivators as well,” he said. He also noted
that the Government would ensure that all farmers would be able to
obtain subsidized fertilizer without any hassle. “They don’t have to
fill forms or spend unnecessary time. Fertilizer would be available
everywhere at the same price,” he added.
The President said so addressing the UPFA Nuwara Eliya District
conference held in support of party candidates contesting the upcoming
Local authority Election at Nuwara Eliya Town Hall.
He also told the gathering that steps would be taken to do away with
certain damaging methods used for tapping Kitul Trees for people to
produce Kitul treacle and jaggery without hindrance. President Rajapaksa
said that there were 2.8 million Kitul trees in the country, but only
three per cent was being used to produce the above. However, he said
that the facility should strictly be used to produce Kitul treacle and
Jaggery only.
The President noted that the Government’s aim was to encourage local
industries and strengthen agriculture to boost local economy and the
income earning capacity of the people.
The President said that the Government’s one million domestic
economic units program which would be launched on Saturday too would
supplement the above.
Commenting on the future aims the President said that the present
Government was not one to grope in the dark.
“We have very clear aims and targets and we have the determination
and a plan to achieve them. We concluded the humanitarian mission
successfully and brought freedom to those held in the grip of
terrorism”, President Rajapaksa said.
“Our next target is development and prosperity. To up the living
standards of the people we have to provide them quality infrastructure.
We have a target to provide 100 percent electricity to all by 2012 and
we would achieve it”, the President said.
“Today even in the remotest of areas carpeted and concrete roads are
being built. We have provided better health facilities. Estate hospitals
are now managed by the Government. Nowhere in the world has free
education and health facilities been provided to the people in this
way”, the President said.
“But we consider all these as an investment for the future. An
investment to uplift the living standards of the people and develop the
country. And ensure a better and prosperous future to the present and
next generations” he said.
Commenting on the upcoming elections, the President observed that the
Opposition was trying to create a wrong picture by telling the people
that this was an election which can be used to topple the Government.
However the President pointed out that the upcoming polls was only to
appoint representatives to the local bodies and not one which would
change Governments.
The President said that the next Presidential election would be in
2017 and the Parliamentary polls in 2016. Even for a PC election there
is nearly five years, he pointed out.
Commenting on the role of local authority members, he said that the
Pradeshiya Sabha representatives would be involved in village
development and it was their responsibility to work as an intermediary
between the Government and the PS to obtain necessary resources and
facilities for village development.
He said that what the people had to do was to choose the team which
could best facilitate their needs and expectations. In this regard the
UPFA has nominated a capable and willing team which can do the job, he
added.
Addressing the candidates the President urged them to work as a team.
He said it was their responsibility to bring victory to the ‘Betele
Leaf’.
Ministers. C.B. Ratnayake, Navin Dissanayake, Deputy Minister Lalith
Dissanayake, and former MP V. Puthrasigamani addressed the gathering.
UPFA candidates and Party members were also present. |