More funds to develop North - Douglas

Development activities get additional Rs 10 b:

The government in addition to the 2012 budgetary allocation to develop the north has allocated an additional Rs 10 billion for new development activities. Of this, the biggest slice has been allocated for the development of agriculture in the north, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

The minister was speaking at a ceremony at the Agrarian Services Development Department in Jaffna to present bank pass books to students of low income earning farmer families and distribute agri-equipment and water spraying machines to schools and farmer organizations last week.

Devananda pointing out the benefits to the farmer community through agricultural development activities in progress, said that some anti-governmental elements were trying to destroy the hard won peace.

The minister said that he will continue to support the development of farmer families and the education of children at all times.

Insisting on the continuance of the annual programme initiated by the Agrarian Service Development Department to encourage students of low income earning farmer families in their education, the minister said that he will increase the present contribution of Rs. 20,000 per student to a higher amount among more students.

Government Agent, Jaffna, Imelda Sukumar and Agrarian Service District Assistant Commissioner Patrick Diranjan also spoke.