‘CSF shouldering development tasks’

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

“The Sri Lanka Civil Security Force (CSF) is transforming itself as a battalion shouldering the tasks of development of sacred cities and cultivation ventures in the country”, said the CSF media coordinating officer Colonel Nihal Samarakoon.

“Out of 38,000 CSF personnel around 25,000 are engaged in various projects in these two spheres in a highly energetic and disciplined manner,” he added. 20 percent of the profits of farming ventures are distributed among the civil security corps members.

The Mahamevuna Uyana landscaping and cleanliness project to hold the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi national commemoration in May on Vesak Fullmoon Poya day, is carried out by CSF personnel.

“The project covers nearly 500 acres and nearly 500-750 members are working to complete the work”.

“Bandhawewa historic water pool in Ritigala archaeological site is also renovated by CSF personnel under the archaeological authorities supervision,” Samarakoon said.

He added that at present there are 280 fields cultivated by the civil security members, mainly in Anuradhapura, Ampara, Kebithigollawa, Mahaoya and Welioya areas.

Subsidiary food crops and vegetable varieties are cultivated in nearly 6000 acres. Samarakoon added, “the CSF Director General Rear Admiral Ananda Pieris had been negotiating with relevant authorities to secure nearly 13,000 acres of land to start CSF farms.

“The CSF was engaged in reviving the once abandoned Kondachchiya cashew farm comprising 6,000 acres in Mannar district,” he said.