Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena says that the village temple and other religious institutions must join the national programme of the government to make the country self-sufficient in terms of food.
He mentioned this taking part in the Rural Economic Revival and Food Security Programmes held at Kethumathi Temple, Madiwela and Sri Saddharmarama Viharaya, Polwatta on 26.10.2022.
The Prime Minister said that National Food Security Program is currently being implemented very successfully under the leadership of the President. The contribution of temples in each village and other religious institutions is highly recommended in this worthy course. Government officials have been sent to each village and a committee comprised of public representatives has also been appointed in this regard.
“Every district should focus on crops that can be used not only for food consumption but can also be added for export crops. For example, the Puttalam district is currently engaged in cotton cultivation and it is being planned to harvest the cotton and export it in about eight months. This program provides an example to every district and we should focus on crops that increase the yield more than usual as well as crops that strengthen the export economy.”
The Prime Minister further mentioned that the government’s rural economic revival and food security program is currently being implemented in fourteen thousand villages and the government’s aspiration is to solve the current financial crisis as well as make the country self-sufficient in terms of food.
Members of Maha Sangha including Venerable Prof. Naimbala Dhammadassi Nayaka Thera, incumbent of Madivela Ketumathi Temple, Venerable Achiththawe Yathirathana Thera, incumbent of Sri Saddharmarama Viharaya, Polwaththa, representatives of the public including Yadamini Gunawardena MP, Pradeep Yasaratne Colombo District Secretary, Dilrukshi Walpola Divisional Secretary Maharagama, Tiraj Lakruwan Chairman of Maharagama Municipal Council and several Municipal Councillors participated in this event.