Sri Lanka Army has established a new unit named ‘Corps of Agriculture and Livestock’, says Commander of Army General Shavendra Silva.

The inauguration ceremony of the Agriculture & Livestock Corps is taking place at the Army Headquarters, Sri Jayewardenepura today (January 07).

It is fully operational for the express goal of elevating the country’s agricultural sector to new heights, the Army said in a statement.

Agriculture and Livestock Corps was set up under the Army’s Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) making headway in its nation-building tasks, to be in line with the President’s Vistas of Splendour & Prosperity) policy statement, it read further.

The formal raising orders for its establishment has been signed by Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva.

A pictorial display of ongoing projects of the DAL and with some of model samples put up at the entrance, invited the observation of the Army Commander before the symbolic signing of raising orders and proceedings got underway.

Director-General of DAL Major General Indrajith Kandanaarachchi, delivering the welcome address, he traced the brief saga behind the expansion of nation-building tasks, development of agricultural sector and resolution of new challenges.

General Shavendra Silva in his brief talk to the occasion afterwards underlined the importance of the day’s gesture as another challenge where the Army is capable of demonstrating its multifaceted capabilities and able to earn an impressive reputation by closely collaborating with all agrarian stakeholders in its journey towards assisting nation-building tasks, as entrusted by the President, placing the fullest confidence in the Armed Forces.

The newly-raised Agriculture and Livestock Corps expects to strategically support the state sector initiatives at national level to establish agriculture resource centres, improvement to freshwater fish-breeding, establishment of cold storing facilities and a tri-service agrarian research and development centre while extending maximum support to further improvement of the agrarian sectors in both state and private sector initiatives.

The DAL in the Army while maximizing the use of Army lands for agricultural and dairy purposes has been engaged in the production of paddy, vegetables, eggs and several varieties of essentials to the Army through its Kandakadu, Menik Farm, Vellamkulum, Galkanda, Palatupana, Adiyapuliyankulam, Balalla and Niraviya farms.

At present, DAL troops have embarked on cultivation of paddy under ‘Thuru Mithuru-Nawa Ratak’ project, 1,000 acres of coconuts, 500 acres of TEJC mangoes, 2000 acres of cashew, 200 acres of chillies, production of yoghurt, curd and eggs with 100,000 layer hens, ration packs using local raw materials, salt, tomato sauce, and compost fertilizer and also cultivation of 100,000 turmeric saplings.

The day’s milestone event was attended by Major General Prabath Dematanpitiya, Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Duminda Sirinaga, Deputy Chief of Staff, Directors, senior officers and other ranks.