Govt. to plant 2 m trees under ‘Surekumata Parisaraya’ initiative

With a view to increase the country’s forest density and forest cover, the Government will kick-off the ‘Surekumata Parisaraya’ initiative next week to plant two million trees within four years.

Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza said arrangements have been made to inaugurate the program by planting trees on a six-acre land in the Boys’ Town area in Ragama on 16 April at 6:40 a.m., in line with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year auspicious time.

This program is being implemented under the guidance of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Presidential Task Force on Economic Poverty Alleviation and Regeneration Chairman Basil Rajapaksa. The program will be inaugurated under the patronage of Highways Minister Johnston Fernando.

The initiative aims to plant 500,000 trees this year under ‘Surekumata Parisaraya’ to achieve its goal of two million trees within four years’ time.

Accordingly, 100,000 trees will be planted under the 100,000 km program, 50,000 trees will be planted by the Maga Neguma Institute, 50,000 trees will be planted by the State Development and Design Corporation and 30,000 projects will be implemented in 14,022 Grama Niladhari Divisions under the ‘Talking with the Village, Back to the Village with Work’ program. It is planned to plant 300,000 trees under the program.

It is also planned to increase the forest density in the Gampaha District by planting trees in identified areas.

State Minister said that measures will be taken to provide high-yielding crops that will help to build the national economy.

Highways Ministry, Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Ministry, Road Development Authority (RDA), Maga Neguma Institute and the State Development and Design Corporation have collaborated to support the initiative.