Under this programme 2.5 million rupees were distributed among eight hundred (800) beneficiaries in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya areas where Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Plantation Industries Mahinda Samarasinghe were present.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister further stated that.“Many programmes were launched to promote small plantation industries while I was then Minister of Plantation Industries. As a whole Sri Lankan tea industry can be developed through developing the small industries. Although many subsidies were granted, several people criticize the government’s programme. However, our government will not take action to curb the subsidies granted to the people. As a government our main aim is to make the people prosperous. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well as the Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development are doing their best to fulfill this endeavour. Some people criticize the agricultural programme of the government, too. But, our government will not worry about anything” Prime Minister, Dr. D.M. Jayaratne added.
Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development expressing his views stated that, “today agricultural cultivation's are largely destroyed due to climate and weather causes. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has allocated a larger amount for soil conservation with the intention of minimizing the damage caused to tea plantations, to promote the owners of small tea plantations. The owners of small tea plantations represent 76% of the tea distributed for conservation of 31,000 plots of tea plantation located in 8 Divisional Secretaries. He highly appreciates the unity among these small tea plantation owners and their strength as congregates. Due to that very reason, they are capable enough to find solutions for the issues pertaining to the plantation. His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa never let tea planters in danger although three main international tea markets who import tea from Sri Lanka are internationally in crisis.
President involved to protect not only the tea industry but also to protect such as paddy, potatoes, maize, big onion etc. as well as to protect industrial products. After the civil war, a huge development programme has been launched and, our government takes action to develop to develop the main sectors such as health, education and trade in parallel to that”
A large gathering including Mahinda Samarasinghe – Minister of Plantation Industry, Earl Gunasekera – Deputy Minister, Sarath Ekanayake – Chief Minister for Central Province, Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law – Central Province Councilor and Private Secretary to the Hon. Prime Minister, Noel Padmasiri Kariyawasam – President, Small Tea Plantations Development Authority, Ms. Damitha de Soyza – Secretary Ministry of Plantation Industries were present at the occasion.
(SI/KH)
