Giving priority to food security in the district, the District Agriculture Committee and the Environment Committee met today (09) under the chairmanship of the District Governor/District Secretary Mr. Ranjan Jayasinghe.

In that meeting, the current status of registering farmers for crop insurance, farmer pensions, obtaining approvals related to the construction of Udamakadwara tank, providing fertilizer for paddy cultivation in the spring season for this year, and seeking the support of agricultural research officers and family health service officers for the Food Gate program and related issues, food security national program and many subjects were discussed.

In this year, information was also presented about the implementation of programs of 25 model plants, 02 each from each divisional secretariat, soil conservation program and this time it was revealed that the district seed requirement was met within the Kegalle district itself. Long beans and okra seeds are currently being produced.

This year's paddy cultivation target is 7141.53 hectares and it was announced that after three seasons, the farmers were able to provide mud fertilizer to the farmers in advance. Also, under the financial assistance given to farmers for the purchase of fertilizers, the money related to 22940 farmers for 6103 hectares has been deposited in their accounts.  Also mapping of all the paddy lands is currently going on and related to that the information of paddy lands of 32065 farmers has been obtained.

In addition, in this meeting, the progress of the Export Agricultural Zone Program, the free distribution of coconut saplings program and the provision of 10 lakhs under the bank interest of 9.75% for tea growers were also discussed.

Along with this committee, the district environmental committee also met. There, several matters were discussed, including the current status of hotel construction along the Kelani River, the removal of coconut trees from the land acquired for the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage grazing project, and the current status of houses that were damaged due to the Broadland Hydroelectric Project.

Mr. Ranjan Jayasinghe, the District Governor/District Secretary, who further commented, said that since there is a danger of dengue these days, they should take measures to keep their institutions and their surroundings clean.

On that occasion, Additional District Secretary (Administration) Dinisha S. Rathnayake, Additional District Secretary (Lands and Development) Gamalathge Dilip Nishantha, District Agriculture Director Manjula Pinnalanda, District Planning Director A.A. Weerakoon, Divisional Secretaries, Deputy Director of Central Environment Authority and heads of institutions related to their respective fields were present.