'Government should empower farmers'

Priyanka KURUGALA

Minister Nimal Siripala

Systematic and efficient water management methods protected the Sri Lankan irrigation system for a thousand years. It is the duty of the government to protect and strengthen farmers, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

The Irrigation and Water Management Ministry will implement a development programme to empower the people, the minister said.

The minister was addressing the Wari Desathiya inaugural programme in Badulla recently. The Ministry will hold the programme countrywide from today to October 9. Minister Silva said the ministry will reintroduce the ancient the Part List System (Pangu Leistu). Under this, farmers will provide their labour for community activities.

The Wari Desathiya is a joint programme of the Economic Development Ministry, the Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry, the Agriculture and the Irrigation and Water Management Ministry.

Three inaugural ceremonies of the programme were held covering the Badulla, Thaldena Irrigation Project, Embilipitiya Chandrika reservoir system and Dambulla Dambulebe reservoir system.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister SM Chandrasena, Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister John Seneviratne and Irrigation and Water Management Deputy Minister, WB Ekanayake also participated.