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Sirisena reaches out to farmers; grassroots approach to presidential campaign
At just quarter past 6 p.m. last Monday, an immaculately white clad Maithripala Sirisena walked into a group of journalists and officials to showcase his latest effort to reach out to the farmers.
President Maithripala Sirisena, displays his skills with a mammoty by taking the first step to renovate the Kubukulawa tank in Polpithigama
What unfolded before some 75 journalists and officials at the main hall of Janadipathi Mandiraya made clear, once more, that he would be Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s aspirant at the presidential election. His focus was the village and farmers, a focused-grassroots-level approach.
He was showcasing a project to rehabilitate 2,400 tanks amidst widespread fears of climate change and its impact. It began with the commissioning of the Polpithigama reservoir in the Kurunegala District. To drive the message home, he asked the Mahaweli Ministry Secretary to provide a 20-minute presentation on existing climatic conditions and how future projects would have to be carried out to enhance agricultural production.
The campaign was a blend of efforts by the Mahaweli Ministry and the Environmental Protection Ministry – both coming under President Sirisena’s charge. “Grants and loans are available.
Though loans would have to be repaid, the investment is worth it. It brings returns,” Sirisena told the journalists present. He noted that most assistance came from the Asian countries and not from the West.
However, Sirisena added that donors had their own conditions. An example was how they raised questions over the Aruwakkal project in Puttalam. This project is aimed at resolving the garbage issue in the Western province.
They pointed out that there were several species of reptiles in the area where the project was to be located. “They asked us to re-locate them and we did,” he said.
President Sirisena was asked that whilst he was pursuing an economic policy underscored by agriculture, the UNP seemed to have a different programme. “They are continuing their policies and I am continuing with my policies,” he declared.
The sessions ended with a lavish dinner. Among the delicacies were koththu rotty, string hoppers, rice, baked fish, crab curry, potato curry, dhal and pol sambol.
Photograph released by the Presidential Secretariat