Sri Lankan government to take over uncultivated paddy lands

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka D.M. Jayaratne says that uncultivated paddy lands in the country would be taken over by the government to re-cultivate.

He pointed out that economic development was important to strengthen the country and therefore every sector needed to be developed.

Jayaratne said that the youth in the country needed to be encouraged to get involved in paddy cultivation in order to develop the agriculture sector.

The Prime Minister had made this statement while attending a paddy cultivation ceremony in Gampola.

He further noted that the importance of agriculture should be understood and the younger generation should be encouraged to cultivate paddy.

Jayaratne said the government will provide financial assistance to the farmers who re-cultivate abandoned paddy lands. Accordingly they will receive 20,000 rupees per acre of re-cultivated land.

According to the Premier, every developed country has achieved its status through hard work.