Geared-up for development

Nipuni Wimalapala

Development booms in every corner of the country after ending a decade-long war. One worst affected party is people in border villages. Civil Security Department (CSD) was established to minimize the risks of those civilians. They provide home guards to the people in border villages.

Colonel Y M Punchibandara	Captain N S A A Nanayakkara	Colonel W M Badrakumara

CSD personnel did their best to fulfill their role in wiping terrorism off the country. They are still dedicated to take active part in the nation rebuilding process. Civil security members are involved in their main living income source, agricultural plantations. They are happy and confident since they too are recognized as a considerable part of the nation development.

Better conditions

The bordering areas such as Shilawathura, Kebithigollewa and Gomarankadawala, in particular, had been heavily exposed to the LTTE attacks. The residents were grappling with immense fear. Today’s situation is quite different. They enjoy a peaceful life with improved economic capabilities, hence better living condition.

Kondachchi is a major area in Silawathura where a huge cashew plantation and many other plantations such as peanuts, chilies, vegetables, fruits and sweet corns cultivated by Civil Security Members. The major plant is cashew and there are 700 acres of cashew at the moment.

The cashew farm was started in 1974 under the management of Cashew Corporation. Plantation is situated in Musali GS division of Silawathure. Plantation was abandoned earlier during the LTTE activities, but now it calls for normalcy. CSD is involved in taking over the Kondachchi farm and replanting cashew stage by stage with the Defence Ministry approval.

CSD is capable of replanting 450 acres of cashew as stage one and maintaining it up to five years with the available resources.

Economic strength

According to Captain N S A A Nanayakkara, Silawathura Project Chief, 150 CSD members are involved in cashew plantations and agricultural work. They plant vegetables, sweet corns and kawpi, while the department pays them to gain extra income from the plantations. They are satisfied with the project as it means economic strength.

CSD Director General Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris shared his thoughts recently at a visit in Silawathura area:

“After ending terrorism in 2009, CSD members were highly appreciated for their incomparable service in their own villages. They were directed to many other effective duties at an order by the Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Most CSD members are familiar with agricultural work since it’s their inherited livelihood. So we make them involve in agricultural work and started many other projects which help them earn more. Apart from plantations, we have launched many other works such as brick projects, cashew plantations, reservations of archeological sites, especially reformation of Mahamewna Uyana. All these projects are successful, thanks to our members’ talents.”

As Rear Admiral Peiris further mentioned, the CSD buys required resources and increase the projects on instructions of Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. CSD members take part in Colombo Reforming Project by becoming an essential part. CSD supports children in those areas by building pre-schools.

More than 300 pre-schools are built by the department and the teachers are also the members of CSD. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa has promised to provide them a training to enhance their talents. A number of schoolteachers also emerged from CSD who work in very rural areas. They have a fund called ‘Suwa Saviya’ through which they provide Rs one million when a member passes away. It is given as a fixed deposit to the child of that particular member.

“CSD members have good status, with renowned uniform, military training, map reading. Finally they receive a pension. Even though there are many objections to carry on our work, we are confident we can develop this further to become an essential partner of the development process,” Rear Admiral Peiris stressed.

CSD members working in a field

Director General of CSD, Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris plucking tomatoes in a Silawathure farm

Kebithigollawa was a main target of LTTE which bitterly experienced the destructive outcomes. The village Security Service commonly known as ‘Grama Arakshaka Sevaya’ was transformed into the Civil Security Department after the Kebithigollawa bomb tragedy at Yakawewa several years back.

Sudden disasters

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, shocked after seeing the massacred innocent villagers, decided to reorganize the service to protect border villagers and their inhabitants. Thus it became the Civil Security Department by a special gazette order in 2006.

The main objectives of the department are to protect war threatened villages and to discourage villagers who try to migrate to south. They are encouraged to take part in development process of the country and render their service in sudden disasters and special festive occasions.

As Colonel Y M Punchibandara, the Sector Commander of Kebitigollawa, mentioned, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa aimed at deploying CSD personnel in various development programmes.

“At the moment, there are many projects in this area. Mainly agricultural work, brick projects, milk projects, livelihood projects and reservation of archeological sites are done in sub areas such as Yakwewa, Indigollewa and Padaviwewa etc. We have initiated a music group and a catering service which are really helpful to the members when they have functions. Everything is done in a perfect manner and we have earned a very good income during last year,” he stressed.

Colnel W M Badrakumara, the Sector Commander of Morawewa, Gomarankadawala, said that the area was a main target of LTTE and people were in a huge risk. CSD members did much to protect the civilians and today they are involved in rather effective work to increase the living status of civilians. Under ‘Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu’ project the CSD members take part in agricultural plantations through which they earn an extra income.

“Last year we gained a good income which resulted in motivating the members to work more. At the moment nearly 600 acres are planted and the most successful one is paddy cultivation. Apart from agricultural plantations, we have started a milk project which is very successful. We have established 15 preschools where our own members work as teachers. There are many other social service projects such as Dengue projects, religious places reformations and welfare services. We provide 20 percent of the profit to the members,” he noted.

Director General of CSD, Rear Admiral Ananda with CSD members	A group of CSD members	Cows, a milk project by CSD members