Chinese ambassador and CM hold discussions:

China to provide scientific technology for agriculture development in NCP

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group Corr

The North Central Provincial Council is making detailed arrangements to shortly implement an agricultural development plan designed to attract school leaving youths to take-up scientific agriculture.

The North Central Province which had been known as the ‘Kingdom of Tanks’ during the periods of the ancient Sinhala Kings, is an agriculture and basically a paddy-farming province.

Sri Lanka had been self sufficient in rice production during these ancient times. Since recently, every effort is being taken by the government to expand agriculture in the province and even the President has given specific instructions to this effect. In this back-drop, the Chinese government has expressed its willingness to assist the farmer community in the province with the latest of Chinese agro technology. With the modern technology, it is anticipated that agriculture harvests would be tremendously improved.

The North Central Chief Minister Ranjith Samarakoon recently had rounds of cordial discussions with the visiting Chinese ambassador Chu Gianho and his entourage at the Anuradhapura Chief Minister's Chambers with the intention of adopting modern agriculture technology.

The Chief Minister lauded the statesmanship of President Mahinda Rajapaksa whose immaculate long outstanding friendship with China has resulted in her wish to assist the people in the North Central Province to gain agriculture development.

The Chinese ambassador expressed that his country was prepared to support very strongly, agricultural issues meant for the empowerment of the livelihood of the farmer community, based on the bonds between Sri Lanka and China. “The Chinese government and the people of China are very happy over the massive development schemes taking shape in the fields of economical, social, commercial and cultural affairs at present. It is the stand of China that it not would break the friendly relations existing between China and Sri Lanka. We are all out to give a helping hand to hoist Sri Lanka into a highly prosperous, independent and a strong country” the ambassador stated at the meeting.

The Chief Minister and the ambassador exchanged momentos of friendship.