SF community development projects in Jaffna!

Thursday, March 06, 2014

Colombo::Sri Lanka Army launched an eco-friendly project to eradicate a hazardous invasive wild plant which is spreading rapidly in Jaffna District on Tuesday (4th March). The programme commenced in selected locations with the cooperation of residents in the respective areas.

More than 747 acres of land including vast stretches of agricultural land have been affected by the invasive plant popularly known as Parthenium. The plant is a serious invasive species which causes dermatitis, respiratory difficulties and oral diseases on humans. It can be fatal to animals if it was to be eaten.

 

The initiative to control the spread of the plant was taken by the army under the directives of Security Forces Commander -Jaffna (SF-J) Major General Udaya Perera.

 

The plant which botanically named as Parthenium Hysterophorus rooted in Jaffna when it was brought here by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in 1987 together with fodder brought for the goats and sheep brought in for meat and as well as through IPKF military hardware.

Meanwhile, Jaffna troops recently launched a new project to buy milk from Jaffna dairy farmers which directly contributes to enhance their lively hood and local economy.

 

Under the project dairy farmers in Inuvil, Suthumalai and Ponnalai in Jaffna are now able to sell their produce to the army at a price greater than the present market prices. The army is buys milk at Rs. 60.00 per litre while the current market price is Rs. 48.00

 

The fresh milk directly bought from farmers is used to produce yoghurt by the army to satisfy its demands. The army hopes to expand the programmes to include other areas in near future.

Continuing its community service initiatives, troops renovated the main building of Varnavil Sri Murukanda School in Puthukudiyiruppu Educational Zone recently. The initiative was taken in order to assist the children of the resettled Tamil community to gain a better education.

 

During the reopening ceremony of the building parents, teachers and students praised the Sri Lanka Army for their utmost commitment and support in helping them to rebuild their lives.