Secret plot to ruin paddy fields with bumper harvests

There is a proposed plan to convert this into a playground

Residents of the area including farmers performed Poojas and other rites praying to the gods to prevent the proposed plan to ruin that vast tract of paddy fields in Pillewa North in Boralesgamuwa. Several prominent personalities in the area had joined the prayers. They accused the authorities of planning to fill the tract of paddy fields that had been cultivated for centuries in the Yala and Maha seasons every year. They pointed out that the tract of paddy fields had already been surveyed under the proposed plan to use it for development purposes.

Member of the Maharagama Urban Council and President of the Boralesgamuwa Agrarian Organisation H.M. Suresh Kumara said the farmers cultivated the tract of paddy field for both Yala and Maha seasons and had a bumper harvest every year.

“I understand that the UDA is planning to fill this vast stretch of paddy fields to construct a playground. However, they still keep it a secret to prevent public protests. Several politicians are behind it. Hundreds of families that depend on paddy cultivation would be in a predicament if the tract of paddy fields turned into a playground. If the proposed plan was not given up, the Agrarian Organisation would launch a massive campaign against it,” he said.

A former Director of Agriculture and Honorary Patron of the Rural Development Society Nandasena Perera said the Pillewa tract of paddy fields had been cultivated for centuries since the time of the Sinhala kings and that several generations of farmers made their livelihood through paddy cultivation.

“It is our paramount duty to protect this vast tract of paddy fields and to prevent any plan to ruin it. It is sad that filling of paddy fields all over the country is going on unchecked despite the government’s claim to have implemented an agricultural development programme to boost paddy cultivation and to make the country self sufficient in rice. Destroying of arable land should not be allowed while the country is facing a serious economic setback. We understand that a secret ploy is being hatched to fill the tract of paddy fields to construct a playground. It is the responsibility of the government to prevent the use of agricultural land for other purposes,” he said.

They requested the Minister of Agriculture P. Harrison to look into the ongoing plan to ruin the Pillewa tract of paddy fields.