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Friday Nov 08, 2024
Wednesday, 24 August 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In order to promote and rehabilitate the agrarian community of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, the Pakistani Government, through its High Commission in Sri Lanka, handed over a tractor made in Pakistan worth $ 10,010 to the Palayadivadai Farmers Association, Pottuvil in a ceremony held at the High Commission of Pakistan today.
The Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Z.A. Nazeer Ahamed was the Chief Guest at the occasion.
The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. (R) Syed Shakeel Hussain handed over the keys of the tractor to the association members.
The ceremony was also attended by Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra, officers of the High Commission, the President of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council Rohita Thilakaratne and members of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Friendship, Trade and Investment Association.
In his brief remarks, the High Commissioner said the Pakistani Government had sponsored many projects in the health, education and livelihood sectors in Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s contribution to several projects in Sri Lanka reflects the desire of the people and Government of Pakistan to assist the people at the grassroots level in Sri Lanka.
While speaking at the occasion, the Chief Minister Ahamed thanked the Pakistani Government for assisting the Palayadivadai Farmers Association in Pottuvil. He went on to say that this will help the poor farmers of the area to start work on paddy fields again. He also recalled the support and assistance the Pakistani Government extended to Sri Lanka in its time of need.
The President of the Palayadivadai Farmers Association Ahmed Zainudeen also thanked the Government and the people of Pakistan for the generous assistance to the farmers association.
This project will add to the tally of socioeconomic projects that Pakistan has initiated in Sri Lanka in the health, education and livelihood sectors. These projects include the construction of a school in Salam Baikulam in Vavuniya Town of the Northern Province, the construction of the district hospital in Akurana, the construction of a three-storied state-of-the-art school in Gampaha, the equipping of science laboratories in schools, the revival of the handloom sector in Mirigama of the Gampaha District to strengthen this cottage industry and provide self-employment, the opening of 35 computer centres and six stitching centres, the provision of a fully-equipped IT lab at the Federation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, the provision of clean drinking water in the North and East, the construction of 230 houses for IDPs, the provision of ambulances to hospitals, the annual award of Jinnah Scholarships as well as higher education scholarships for the study of medicine, engineering, dentistry and pharmacy in Pakistan.
