Sri Lanka’s ...
has somewhat deflated this criticism through showpiece infrastructure development like the Colombo Racecourse, the Arcade Independence Square, beautifying parks, playgrounds and the creation of walking, cycling and jogging tracks in Colombo and the suburbs.
The Kandakadu farm was taken over by the army from the control of the LTTE and reopened in 2011. The army is in the process of using the whole land area for agriculture, livestock and diary development. So far 300 acres have been cultivated while the dairy section of the farm currently has 200 milk cows.
According to military sources, the army will provide the skilled labour for the planned joint venture project with an Australian company which will set up cool rooms.
Meanwhile in another project to enhance local milk production, the Economic Development Ministry recently signed up with the Export Finance Insurance Corporation ( EFIC) of Australia and the Rabobank, Netherlands to provide funds to import 20,000 cows. Under this, the ministry will import 20,000 cows from Wellard Rural Export Pvt. Ltd, Australia at a cost of nearly $ 74 million ( more than Rs. 9.6 billion). In Phase 1 of the project, Wellard supplied 2000 milk cows to three farms in central Sri Lanka’s Bopaththalawa region.
Under Phase 2, Wellard will supply 2500 cows and also infrastructure to a farm in Ridiyagama in southern Sri Lanka.
In addition to the Kandakadu farm, the army has farms in Ella- Kantale, Kuttigala, Diyatalawa, Paanaluwa, Habarakada, Ekala, Kandakadu, Udayarkattukulam, Menik Farm, Nachchikuda, Kohilawaguruwatta, Palali and Wellakulam areas totalling 2196 acres.
Those farms grow paddy, corn, vegetables, fruits, coconuts, sugarcane, peanuts, oranges, arecanut, cinnamon, banana, jak, seasonal crops and produce dairy products. In addition, some of those farms carry out animal husbandry, poultry and dairy cattle activity.
Troops of the Sri Lanka Army General Services Corps are actively engaged in these projects island- wide and sell the harvest to the public at reasonable price.