Army Helps Kosgama Farmers with Machinery for Paddy Cultivation
Following a request made by farmers to the Agrarian Department for assistance to dig up the nearby paddy-fields in Kosgama blast-affected areas, the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva instructed Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, Security Forces - West (SF-West) and Colonel Buwaneka Gunarathne, Director Agriculture to make Army heavy machinery and tractors available for ploughing the paddy-fields that could have been affected due to shrapnel of the explosion. \r\n\r\nSecurity Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West) this morning (8) launched a programme to plough 245 acres of paddy lands in the area in response to the request under the supervision of the Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, SF-West. \r\n\r\nIt is to be done under 3 phases enabling the farmers to sow paddy in the ‘Maha’ season.\r\n\r\nOn the directions of Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army and the close supervision of the Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, SF-West, those troops would continue this cultivation operation in the peripheral areas, enabling the villagers to re-start their cultivations and normal life.\r\n\r\nAbout 50 troops with more than 10 tractors and machineries began the programme this morning (8). \r\n\r\nRepresenting the Commander of the Army who initiated the project, Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, SF - West, attended the main inaugural ceremony at the above venue in the presence of Mr Bandara Mapa, Divisional Secretary for Seethawaka, Commander, 142 Brigade, Brigadier Hemantha Bandara, Director Agriculture, Colonel Buwaneka Gunarathne, several state officials, military officers and farmers.\r\n
