CSD to play lead role in development

By Irangika RANGE

The Government's ambitious programs targeting revival of agricultural success for food security are going to be ably assisted by the male and female cadres of the Civil Security Department (CSD).

Agriculture resurgence seems not so distant given the fact that these men and women who had once safeguarded the motherland with all their might would definitely win in their present confrontation with the lands lying fallow.

As they did earlier during the conflict by adding their strength to achieve victory, they would do same in the country's agriculture sector shedding sweat.

The CSD members have taken the lead role in revival of agro industrial ventures across the country acquired under the provisions of Underperforming and Underutilised Assets Act.

Pelwatta Sugar Factory has been turned around into a functioning industrial zone by the assistance of around 200 CSD members toiling hard to cultivate sugar cane in thousands of acres of land in Moneragala and Ampara districts.

The CSD members had cultivated sugar cane in 100 acres of land in Thimbirigasara and another 500 acres of land in Minirankivula in Ampara District. The sugar cane harvest from these two projects is expected to feed the Pelwatta Sugar Factory.

The CSD members have been given the same grant given to sugar cane farmers for cultivation.

Banana cultivation

Commanding Officer Colonel N.L.  Thilakaratne with CSD members of the Ampara- Moneragala Force Headquarters cut a bunch of bananas.

CSD women pluck a banana flower.

Sugarcane harvest

Their ultimate hope is to transform the Pelwatte sugar factory into a profitable venture.

The CSD members not only toil in the field and factory but have also rendered their expertise to improve the infrastructural situation where they have been deployed. They have recently completed the construction of the Danagiriya road from Kotagoda junction used by sugar cane farmers.

Their comrades attached to the Ampara-Moneragala Force Headquarters, under Commanding Officer Colonel N.L. Thilakaratne, are engaged in various cultivations. They are maize, manioc, chillies, banana, coconut, pepper, paddy, millet, green gram, kurakkan, undu, vegetables and fruits. Apart from that they also work in industries such as pottery, ekel production and livestock projects.

Their manpower strength covers Ampara, Meegahapitiya, Ranawirudiriya, Arunalu, Dimuthu, Kivulaara, Ginigath Ara, Minirankivula, Siyabalanduwa, Govidhapura, Wadinagala, Kotagoda, and Deegawapi areas in both Ampara and Moneragala Districts.

The results so far are very impressive: The paddy cultivation is extended up to 200 acres in Omirangawa, Veheragala and Hiburegoda while manioc and maize cultivation and banana cultivation spread in 16 acres and two acres respectively.

Around 20,000 curd pots are produced daily in addition to the cooking pots, cooking pans, flower pots, plant pots, jugs, bowls, goblets and toys in the pottery project run by CSD members at one of its pottery projects. It is reported that the monthly income of one member engaged in the pottery project will exceed Rs.100,000.

They also maintain plant nurseries where species of plants with utility value ranging from medicinal, fruit, timber, indigenous and forest plants. These plants are planted in barren lands in forests belonging to the Forest Conservation Department. Some plants are distributed among the schoolchildren and villagers to cultivate them in schools and homesteads.

They target to produce plants to reforest an area of 5,000 acres in the Ampara District and more than 12,000 acres elsewhere in the country.

The CSD members also maintain ten lakes as training and producing facilities of freshwater fisheries projects. Most of the CSD personnel engaged in cultivation as well as industrial projects could make use of the knowledge of raring freshwater fish to earn extra bucks and to add to the nutritional value of their meals.

Two CSD members engage in moulding a cooking pot.

CSD Director General Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris says that this transformation of manpower from the war effort to development effort was a brainchild of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. "During the war, CSD personnel put their maximum, some even to the level of supreme sacrifice to eliminate terrorism. Now they are engaged in winning the development war.

The CSD is transforming itself as a battalion shouldering the task of developing Sri Lanka."

Rear Admiral Peiris says not only his men and women have been deployed in the agriculture and development drive but also in national heritage safeguard. Currently around 75 CSD members are engaged in conserving historical Deeghawapi Chaithya sacred site.

They worked in excavation and renovation and paved the area surrounding the sacred stupa and rehabilitated many other monuments. "They completed the assignment within three and half months," he said.

"These additional tasks also brought the CSD men additional income. Their livelihoods have gone up. For example, every CSD man has his own mode of transport, at least a motorcycle.

First known as home-guards providing security to villages, and then transforming themselves into a fully-fledged force of security machinery of the country, these men and women convinced the country that they are a force to be reckoned with. In respect of the yeoman service they rendered, President Mahinda Rajapaksa elevated them and set up the Civil Security Department in 2009.

They are now government servants and eligible for a pension too. The cadre strength of the CSD is now around 42,000 men and women and all of them have been trained by the Sri Lanka Army.

These men and women were once farmers. They were forced by the circumstances to take up arms against terrorism.

The lands they tilled had been abandoned and left for decay with forests during the three decade long conflict. "Now, the conflict is over. They are happy and eager in finding their livelihoods back," Rear Admiral Peiris said.