Experiment with new paddy varieties - President

Atapattu BANDARA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday instructed officials to encourage farmers to experiment with new paddy varieties aiming to explore an export market for Sri Lankan paddy.

Explaining the importance of carbonic fertiliser instead of chemical fertiliser, President Rajapaksa instructed the officials to promote carbonic fertiliser with a proper mechanism.

The President made these remarks at the acquisition of land of Walawa division of the Mahaweli Authority for the development of Hamabantota port and town, at Temple Trees yesterday. The meeting was held with the participation of officials of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry and the Urban Development Authority (UDA) .

The acquisition of land belonging to the Mahaweli Authority is to be carried out in several stages. Initially, 1,500 acres will be taken over by the SLPA and UDA. Under the second phase, another 1,277 acres will be given for development activities of the Hambantota city.

President Rajapaksa explained that the acquisition of lands should be done through a special joint committee appointed by the SLPA, UDA and the Irrigation Development Ministry.

“The appointment of a committee would minimise future problems,” he added.

“Natural resources and aesthetic beauty should never be harmed when development programmes are carried out. Growing grass in state owned lands of 2,000 acres will be a boon to animal husbandry. This will augment the country’s animal food production,” the President said. At the discussion, special attention was focused on energy preservation projects during a possible energy crisis in the future.

The President instructed the officials to make people constructing houses, aware about alternative energy in case of a power crisis.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, MP Namal Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, SLPA chairman Dr Priyath Banduwickrama, UDA chairman Nimal Perera and Irrigation Ministry Secretary Ivan de Silva were also present.