‘Govt boosts paddy cultivation’

Amila Prabath Wanasinghe

The government has developed paddy cultivation which had been destroyed by UNP governments. This government has also uplifted the livelihoods of the farmers while strengthening their economy, Co-operative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said.

“During the time of former President Premadasa, he closed paddy purchasing centres and stores. He turned them into factories. During Ranil's period they destroyed paddy lands while filling paddy lands to construct buildings. They have destroyed huge areas of paddy lands during that period,” he said.

The minister was addressing the opening ceremony of a newly built paddy store in Vijithapura, Anuradhapura, recently. This new paddy storage facility has a capacity to store 1,000 metric tons of paddy. “President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken measures to uplift the paddy farmer through Mahinda Chinthana future vision. The government will never forget the farmer community.

Agriculture is the main livelihood of Sri Lankans and it should be enhanced. The government has implemented a vital programme to uplift the paddy cultivation in the country. The UNP and JVP are trying to mislead the public while making false statements.

“We like to request them to join the government to see the progress of the development programmes which have been implemented.

“This will be more helpful to to get a good vision about the government's development programmes,” Minister Fernando said.