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| Sunday, 30 May 2004 |
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President rededicates herself to fight poverty President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga accepting the Ceres Medal minted in her honour and awarded by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) referred to the award as one of high distinction. In a mood of exuberance mixed with humility President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga recalled her long association with the country's agrarian reforms dating back to 1972 in recognition of which FAO had honoured her with the 'Silver Medal' in 1976. " "Today we recognize that a great deal more remains to be done in alleviating poverty and ensuring food security for our people. "An important aspect of the five fold "Vision for the Future of Sri Lanka" enunciated by my government deals with specific domestic measures that we intend to implement, to meet the needs of the rural agricultural community. "These include rational land utilization, the future development of our irrigation network and improved water management, further modernizing agricultural practices, developing market access for the vast body of our small farmers, as well as the development of rural industries and other measures to raise the income levels of the rural population. "We have also focused strongly on the need to pursue corrective measures, in order to mitigate the negative impact of market oriented economic policies on the incidence of poverty and malnutrition. "The conflict in the North and East of our country has resulted in an unfortunate imbalance in the indicators of social progress, malnutrition and hunger between the conflict-affected areas and the rest of the country. My government is now in the process of setting up an institutional framework for relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation in the war-ravaged areas of our country. In this regard we will continue to seek the assistance of international agencies and donor governments," said the President. In rounding off her speech the President rededicated herself to fight against poverty, hunger, ignorance, fear and the denial of other fundamental rights in order to create an environment where the Greatness of Man could truly blossom. |
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