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Today the LTTE wanted peace. Likewise the people of this country are yearning for peace. The government's efforts to achieve peace should be supported by all Samurdhi officials and recipients without being slaves to individual desire and differences. You should not give vent to your political feeling, said Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Samurdhi S. B. Dissnayake at a meeting held in Kuruwita.

The meeting was held to thank the Samurdhi recipients in the Kuruwita Divisional Secretariat division who have contributed their one month's pay amounting to Rs. 40 lakhs under the Samurdhi Navodaya project aiming at establishing a Samurdhi project in the division with the collection of 100 lakhs of rupees.

Minister of Small Holder Development Susantha Punchinilame presided.

Earlier Minister Dissanayake in the company of Minister Punchinilame inspected various projects completed by the Samurdhi movement in the area.

Minister Dissanayake stated the LTTE and the people of this country have great faith in the Prime Minister's peace process. The LTTE has come to the stage to disburse their army units. In this peace process you too have a major role to play, he said.

He said that in order to alleviate poverty the third world countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries have introduced various activities. But none of these countries have a powerful project like Samurdhi being implemented in Sri Lanka.

He said the Samurdhi scheme was initiated not only to provide benefits to poor families but to promote co-ordination among rural folk, to strengthen their organisational skills, train them to save the benefits received, to receive loans and improve agriculture, and participate in development activities. The Samurdhi scheme which was started during the PA regime with the blessings from the President, was later politicized. Even though the PA failed to realize the importance of this scheme Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his government realized its importance. Eighty per cent of the population in this country depend on agriculture. This government has united agriculture and livestock with Samurdhi. This Ministry will be able to perform tremendous service in the future.

The Minister said that a program of work will be given to the Samurdhi development officers and the zonal management of Samurdhi. We will give them marks taking their performances into consideration. These officials should perform their duties as expected, he said.

Minister of Small Holder Development Susantha Punchinilame and Kuruwita Divisional Secretary Basil Perera, spearheaded the 100 lakhs worth development projects completed with 40 lakhs of rupees contribution from the Samurdhi recipients, setting out an example to others.

Kuruwita Delgama Viharadipathi Venerable Madalagama Vajirabuddhi Thera delivered the anusasana.

Director General of Samurdhi Sunil Jayantha Navaratna and Ratnapura District Secretary Mrs. Malani Premaratna, also spoke. 

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