Displaying its full compliance with the national tree planting campaign, ‘Deyata Sevana’,
the Army on Friday (16) undertook another mega cultivation project at
Settikulam Manik Farm in Vavuniya after planting more than 1000 fruit
saplings of hybrid nature.
A 10- acre extent of less fertile land in the former ‘Relief Village’
area taken over by the Army is to be thus transformed to be an orchard,
filled with fruit species, like pomegranate, guava, mango, cashew, lime,
etc with the intention of providing fresh fruits to both the common
masses in Wanni and to the Army serving there.
Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, who took the
initiative in this regard in the Wanni sector after receiving nearly
2430 hectares of state land for this purpose, entrusted the Army’s
Directorate of Agriculture to commence cultivation of vegetables and
fruits for consumption of both the Army and the public. Commander of the
Army took part in Friday’s (16) tree planting ceremony at Settikulam as
the Chief Guest.
The day’s programme began after the Commander raised the national flag
and inaugurated the campaign at Settikulam by planting several of those
above-mentioned tree saplings, together with senior officers, attending
the occasion.
Major General Boniface Perera, Commander, Security Forces
Headquarters-Wanni (SFHQ-W) and Major General Udaya Perera, Commander,
Security Forces Headquarters-Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) raised the Army flag
and the SFHQ-W flag respectively before proceedings commenced. The
Army Chief on arrival at the venue was conducted in a welcome procession
attended by school children of Al Hamedia Vidyalaya.
The incumbent Army Chief soon after his assumption of duties, explored
possibilities of propagating cultivation sector among Army personnel,
showing a keen interest in this sector, As a result, a separate wing,
Directorate of Agriculture saw its birth a few months ago.
Army-managed Kandakadu, Nachchikuda, Panaluwa, Udyarkattukulam,
Kuttigala, Ekala, Kohilawagurawatta, Diyatalawa farms, now in full
swing, are currently producing curd, fruits, sugar cane, eggs, chicken,
vegetables, corn and paddy for their own and public consumption.
At Settikulam, the Army in addition to the 10-acre extent inaugurated
today (16) is in the process of growing vegetables on its own.
Similarly, in a combined project with Prima Ltd, the Army has launched a
corn cultivation project in a land extent of about 225 hectares in the
same area.
In the meantime, the Commander of the Army minutes after the end of the
tree planting programme, made a bee line to the Madu Shrine (Our Lady of
Madu) with the intention of receiving an update on various development
projects, carried out by the Army and inquiring into its needs, if any.
It was Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, then as the Wanni
Commander, who initiated the repair works of this holy shrine after it
was struck by a barrage of LTTE artillery and mortar attacks as the
troops were rolling on to capture terrorist hideouts. To protect the
holy statue from LTTE attacks, members of the clergy at one point of
time was compelled to remove it and place it elsewhere until the
situation turned normal.
The visiting Commander of the Army during his exchange of views with the
clergy on Friday (16) queried about any requirements pending or needing
the attention of Army troops who are continuing to assist the sacred
place in different ways. He also instructed the Commanding Officers in
the area to attend to all the needs of the shrine as well as the clergy,
giving priority.
Before the Commander’s exit from the premises, the clergy conducted a
special mass and blessed the visiting Army Chief and the organization.
Wanni and Kilinochchi Commanders, Brigadier A. Kariyakarawana, General
Officer Commanding, 61 Division and several senior officers were
associated with the Commander’s visit to the sacred shrine.
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