‘No food crisis here thanks to farmers’ commitment’

Sri Lanka did not feel the global food crisis due to farmers’ commitment who carried out cultivation under the government’s directions, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President made this observation at a ceremony to handover 4,600 deeds for plots of Mahaweli lands at Temple Trees yesterday.

He said the granting of deeds of Mahaweli lands was a long felt need and the government fulfilled it as promised at the last Provincial Council election.

President Rajapaksa said not like UNP governments that reclaimed paddy fields and discouraged farmers, this government has taken steps to encourage farmers to uplift their livelihoods. He said the government provided fertiliser at Rs 350 when it was Rs 7,000 in the world market to encourage cultivation. The President said the results of these endeavours were enjoyed by the country.

He said the government was able to provide food to the people when there was a global food crisis thanks to farmers. President Rajapaksa said farmers’ children need not necessarily be farmers, but could do other jobs. “With this intention, the government made arrangements to uplift the standard of education in rural areas.” He said this enabled students in rural schools to score the highest marks in examinations.