Mahinda Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasized that everyone in this country is duty-bound to protect children from child abuse to wipe out this menace faced by the younger generation.

Addressing the recipients of “Ranbima deeds” at Temple Trees, the President said that receiving ownership of a plot of land is a significant moment for anyone. Also mentioned, though the Mahinda Chinthana promised to offer land ownership to one million landless families, this target has been exceeded now.

Around 5,000 families received Ranbima deeds from the President and this function was organized by the Land Reform Commission.

The President said that it is the prime responsibility of people to get the best use of their lands and they should dedicate themselves to fulfill the government’s programmes of achieving self-sufficiency in food. The President pointed out that the government is carrying out several programmes for this purpose including the Divi Naguma programme.

He said that as a result of these agriculture sector development initiatives, Sri Lanka is self sufficient in rice, which had been imported for decades. Besides, a considerable amount of maize production is exported today.

The President also said that moves have been taken to increase milk production aiming to gain self-sufficiency in milk, and the land recipients should also contribute to this national task to increase food production. He also said that land value is increasing significantly owing to the on-going infrastructure development. Access roads to lands are constructed while electrification and water supply projects are implemented under the infrastructure development activities of the government.

The President requested the land recipients to manage their lands’ productively to simultaneously enhance their livelihoods and increase contribution to national agricultural output. He urged them to cultivate more local crops in their lands to meet both their needs and that of the country.

He said that it was the late Prime Minister Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike and the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Hector Kobbekaduwa who initiated the distribution of state land among the landless people of the country. He said that the Land Reforms Commission is conducting the distribution of state land among the landless in an organized manner.

Speaking further on the child abusing incidents being reported recently, the President said that the young generation should be protected and safeguarded from child abuse. Everyone has a responsibility to protect children since it is a national task. There won’t be a development without protecting the future generation who are to be benefited from these developments. He said that parents have to play a vital role in this regard and they should have a keen eye on their children and should prevent them from engaging in mischievous activities.

Ministers Rajitha Senaratna, Wimal Weerawansa, Parliamentarian JRP Sooriyapperuma LRC Director General Harigupta Rohandeera and LRC Chairman Nimal G Punchihewa also spoke. Parliamentarians Kamala Ranatunga and V K Indika were also present. (niz)