President says his priority is to provide permanent solutions to farmers’ woes

President Maithripala Sirisena says as a leader with an understanding and experience of the sad story of a farmer’s life, priority of his program is to provide permanent solutions to the basic problems of the farmer community.

Speaking at an event held in Ape Gama, Battaramulla yesterday, the President said as a farmer’s son who is used to the plough and sickle from school days, farmers’ problems were not new to him.

This event was organised to commence the work on the movie ‘Govi Thatta’.

The movie is known as the first Asian movie about the tragic story of farmers who abandoned the ancient pro-environmental methods and welcomed the use of chemical fertilisers in the modern industrial world.

This film will be shot by the musician Darshana Ruwan Dissanayake based on the life story of his farmer father Premaratne Dissanayake in Unagala Vehera village.

At the occasion, the producer of the film Sarath Bandara Kokwewa presented the movie script to Premaratne Dissanayake’s wife B.M. Biso Menike. A memento was also presented to the President.

Cultural Affairs Department Director Anusha Gokula, the production team including musician Dissanayake and the members of the Premaratne Dissanayake family were also present at the occasion.