29th September 2020 17:50:11 Hours
The Army in the wake of the forthcoming milestone 71st Army Anniversary embarked on a mega TJC mango planting drive in the Army-owned Sinhapura Farm of 1100 acres, off Padavi-Sripura on Tuesday (29) morning.
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army currently in Rajarata for Army anniversary commemorations, took time off to visit the Sinhapura Farm and begin cultivation of 20,000 TJC Mango saplings under four phases after planting the first sapling amid chanting of 'Seth Pirith'. A total of 5000 TJC mango saplings out of 20,000 are to be planted inside the allocated land patch of 100 acres in the farm under the first phase within a few days.
In the same premises, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva symbolically inaugurated the renovation project of two man-made tanks after naming them as 'Gajaba Wewa' and 'Sebala Wewa' to serve as water storages, needed for cultivations.
After inauguration of mango planting, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, together with Mr. A Prageeth, Irrigation Engineer for the Region, Lieutenant Colonel D.A.P Dissanayake, Site Officer, Major A.M.C Gunasekara, Farm Officer and senior officers visited those tank areas, scheduled to be completely renovated as 'Gajaba Wewa' and 'Sebala Wewa' inside the farm, through which water could be made available during dry seasons.
The Irrigation Engineer, Mr A Prageeth briefed the visiting Army Chief on the advantages of the renovation and expansion of those two tanks inside and their capacity for storage of rainy water that can be used for farming purposes both inside and also for the benefit of neighbouring farming communities. Similarly, the farm officer in a brief presentation enlightened the visitors on the proposed crop cultivation scheme inside the farm within next few months and how desired targets could be achieved.
Afterwards, Mr Wasantha, Padaviya and Wahalkada Head of Enterprises (Viyapara Adhikari) explained difficulties and problems faced by the famers in the area to the Commander, highlighting prevailing shortage of seeds, fertilizer and sale of their harvest, etc. The Army Chief after giving a patient hearing promised them that those concerns would be brought to the notice of HE the President in order to find solutions.
Assistant Divisional Secretary for Padavi-Sripura, officials of the Irrigation Department, Land Department, local council, Senior Army officers, 9 Gajaba Regiment Commanding Officer and several other administrators attended the inauguration.
Before his exit, the Commander of the Army instructed farm officers to set up a paddy mill and a drier for paddy inside the farm which can be utilized by local farmers also at reasonble charge. Adidas shoes | Sneakers Nike Shoes
