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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Army Patriotism Sees No Bounds; Turns Prime Mover in Development

THE SUBJECT OF PATRIOTISM has many facets, more popularly, they emerge in gallantry, warfare against foes, victory, etc but true tenets of patriotism are overwhelmingly glorious as Adlai Stevenson once wrote, “Men who have offered their lives for their country know that patriotism is not the fear of something, it is the love of something”. Believe it, our real patriots are doing that ‘something’ for the new generation of Sri Lankans, born in the past century and yet to be born in this century after their historic role of defending Sri Lanka’s freedom and territorial integrity in her hour of maximum danger. Those Sri Lankan War Heroes joined in battle to reclaim our lost territory are gleefully now at work to transform their country of birth into an oasis of prosperity. Here is the story.      

It all began more than 6 months ago in Maha season in Ella-Kantale in the liberated eastern theatre of war after the new Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya toured the east. The huge abandoned marshy patches of agricultural lands that produced paddy to the entire country some thirty years ago were found remaining barren, unattended and uncultivated, mainly due to previous LTTE threats at that point of time. Troops after inspiration received from their Army Chief joined hands together in cooperation with the ongoing “Negenahira Udanaya” programme, and got down necessary machinery for ploughing, soil preparations and jungle clearing. Similarly, soldiers enthusiastically and eagerly put up new dams around Kanthi tank and dilapidated canals at the location while restoring new drains that could carry water. Near 100 acre unattended fertile land thanks to relentless efforts of the soldiers turned vast swathes of paddy field as mammoties, ploughs, caterpillars, bachoes and excavators went into work. 

The sowing with paddy as well as the subsequent harvesting after several months took place giving pride of place to traditional religious and cultural rites and rituals in accordance with age-old practices. Monks blessed the new harvest and mercy for prosperity was invoked on all those who tirelessly worked praying to the deities, as is the practice on Kamatha (threshing floor).                   

The seed paddy, fertilizer and pesticides for this memorable project were provided by the Agricultural Department free of charge at the request of the Army. Two tractors, one harvester and 60 civil personnel, in addition to hundreds of troops worked for the project with a collective mindset. The entire preparation and cultivation cost the Army about Rs. 300,000/= but the Army is to receive a record profit from the harvest in a couple of days as the harvest appears bountiful. The Army is also contemplating to further expand the harvesting area with monsoon rains coming in during the next Yala season.  

Meanwhile, an abandoned 300-acre state farm in Kandakade, Welikanda was taken over on 25th September 2009 by the Army on the instructions of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya. The entire farm is now fast turning into an orchard,   rich with mangoes, maze, bananas, oranges, cashew, papaw, vegetables, and a place for cattle breeding. Curd and milk are to be produced shortly under its new Army management.

Army farms in Kuttigala, Diyatalawa and Panagoda are also performing well after infusion of more capital and manpower into those projects at the end of the recent war.