Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K.D. Lalkantha participated in development programs conducted under the Dumbara Green Empowerment Project.

A series of development programs under the Dumbara Green Empowerment Project were launched recently under the leadership of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha.

The cost for the aquatic plant removal program at Thunhiriya Tank is Rs. 4,210,900. Thunhiriya Tank irrigates 392 acres of paddy fields, with 1,200 direct and indirect beneficiaries. Under the development of Kunjanmbanda Tank, the tank bund and outlet will be renovated, and a spillway will also be constructed. This will provide the capacity to cultivate an additional 10 acres of paddy fields. With an investment of Rs. 67,300,580, a mixed crop cashew cultivation project with elephant-deterrent crop fences is being implemented at Kavudupelassa Nalanda Estate under the Dumbara Green Empowerment Project.

Joining the occasion of launching these projects, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha expressed his views.

It is through the combination of ‘Wewai - Dagebai - Gamai – Pansalai’ that we have a prosperous village. In dry zones like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, there is no life without tanks. Sri Lanka's tanks were not dug. Tanks were built. It is called as tank-building kingdom. Tanks have always been located above the village and above the cultivation. We are making great efforts to renovate the tanks. Under 'Wari Mahima'- Ape Uruma’ program, we are restoring the tanks.

Damage to agriculture by wild animals has become a serious problem. There is no topic called wildlife management in our country. There is no institution or responsible institution for it. The Wildlife Department exists to take care of animals. We need an institution and a program related to the subject of wildlife management. In order to manage wildlife, first we need to count the wildlife. We need to know the number. We conducted a wildlife census in recent days. We will take action regarding this in the future.

There is money available to spend under the Knuckles Project. We have a challenge regarding spending that money effectively and quickly. If that money is not spent, the project will be unsuccessful. We are working to bring the benefits of these projects to the people in the future.

We have a problem. That is, what did the departments do until a tank was destroyed to this extent? Similarly, what did farmer organizations, government officials, and voluntary organizations do? They watch until the tank gets blocked and then say the minister should clean it up. Can a country be built like that? Everyone needs to have interest in these matters. Only when everyone's interests are combined can we move the country forward. That's why our program is named 'Ekamitata - Govi Bimata'. Political parties are useless. When algae grows in the tank, everyone should come together to clean it. This country has collapsed because of politicians, state officials, citizens, and organizations - all of them. Let us all come together and build this country.