By Walter Jayawardhana

The Task Force of Uthuru Wasanthaya, the project of rapid development of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, launched a new project to cultivate fallow rice fields , neglected due to war for the last fifteen years, yesterday.

Task Force Chief and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa said the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-project will start from Chavakachcheri area by developing 1124 acres of rice fields demarcated by by Minister Douglas Devananda for which 1090 farmers have been registered.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

Launching a ceremony to put the fields under the plough at Maruwan Kulam parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa said the fallow rice fields pointed out by Minister Devananda also have been cleared by security forces to be free of land mines now enabling immediate cultivation for the Maha season.

For the Maruwan Kulam area 550 families have been registered while for the Tanankilappu area another 540 families have been registered.

Rajapaksa said seed rice and fertilizer will be provided free for the farmers with Rupees 4000 per acre for the initial expenses.

He said in Jaffna 9900 hectares will be cultivated ultimately under this scheme.

Minister Douglas Devananda said under the 180 days resettlement program neglected rice fields will be re-cultivated. He said today, the Tamil people are free to engage themselves without fear in their daily life unlike the situation that prevailed before. He said all communities could now live in peace and unity.

Northern Governor G.A. Chandrasiri was confident that Jaffna will be able to produce the rice requirements with the re-cultivation of land under the 180-day ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Uthuru WasanthayaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ accelerated programme.

British High Commissioner Peter Hayes, members of the Security Forces and senior Government officials of Jaffna were present.