Sweet times for Northerners

Sandasen Marasinghe

The government has drawn up plans to cultivate sugarcane in 2,000 hectares of land in the Northern Province to boost the local sugar industry while opening yet another avenue of economic activity in the fast developing post war Northern Province, Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri said.

He said initial steps have been taken in this connection and the first phase of the project will commence next month. Chandrasiri said with the implementation of this project, at least 20,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created for people deprived of such opportunities for a long period, enabling them to enjoy the peace dividend.

He said a group of officials have been sent to Pelwatta Sugar Industries PLC to study the subject before the commencement of the project in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts in the first phase.

The project will be extended to Mannar and Mullaithivu soon, the Governor said. He said lands have been identified for this purpose. “Measures have been taken to inquire into issues of lands, water, farmers, technical know how etc with regard to the project.”

The Governor said though cultivation is commenced in government lands with the participation of Civil Defence Force personnel, civilians too can get involved in cultivation in their own lands.

Major General Chandrasiri said this project will be directed by the newly appointed Sugar Industries Minister Lakshman Seneviratne