By: AswathyNair
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is engaged in a tour of the Matale district today (Jan. 10) to ensure the victory of the candidates contesting the general election from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
The farmers who had gathered at the Galewela Children’s Park public rally requested the President to provide a fixed price for their onion harvest expected to be supplied to the market.
Former Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake and Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon also joined the meeting with the people organized by former Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon.
The President also participated in the public meeting organized by Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon at the premises of the Dambulla weekly market. The President commended the local farmers for their dedication to agriculture.
During the tour, the President was also briefed on the operations of the Rangiri Bio Green Organic Fertilizer Plant, headed by the Dambulla Urban Council. The facility provides 3 tons of organic fertilizer daily to Matale and Dambulla. Municipal councilors stated that if the development of the waste management project in the area is supported, the facility can produce the amount of organic fertilizer required for the entire Central Province.
Due to contradictory views between the UDA and the Departments of Archeology and Wildlife, land disputes in Sigiriya have not been resolved for a long time, people told the President and pointed out the negative impact on tourism due to the land issues.
The farmers also appealed to the President to expedite the construction of the cold storage facility commenced by the previous government.
The President thanked the Dambulla Heritage and several voluntary organizations with the mediation of Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon for constructing a hospital ward to combat COVID-19 at a cost of Rs. 9 million.
