“Child abuse prevention, responsibility of all”– President

Thursday, 19 July 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that everyone was duty-bound to protect children from child abuse this menace faced by the younger generation was to be wiped out. The President was addressing the recipients of Ranbima deeds at Temple Trees.

Around 5,000 families, who had lived for a long period in Government-owned lands, received Ranbima deeds from the President. The event was organised by the Land Reform Commission (LRC).

Addressing the gathering, President Rajapaksa said that receiving ownership of a plot of land was a significant moment for anyone. According to the ‘Mahinda Chinthana,’ it had been scheduled to offer land ownership to one million landless families. The one million set target has already been achieved, the President said.

The President noted that it was the prime responsibility of people to get the best use of their lands. Regarding achieving self-sufficiency in food, the Government is carrying out several programmes and projects, including the ‘Divi Neguma’ programme.

As a result of these agriculture sector development initiatives, Sri Lanka is self sufficient in rice, which had been imported for decades. A considerable amount of maize is also exported today.

Moves have been made to increase milk production aiming to gain self-sufficiency in milk. The land recipients should also contribute to this national task to increase food production, the President said. Land value is increasing significantly owing to the ongoing infrastructure development. Access roads to lands are being constructed while electrification and water supply projects are being implemented under the infrastructure development activities of the Government

The President requested them to manage the productively of their lands to simultaneously enhance their livelihoods and increase contribution to national agricultural output. The President urged recipients of land deeds to cultivate more local crops in their lands to meet both their needs and those of the country. He said that it was the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Hector Kobbekaduwa who had initiated the distribution of State land among the landless people of the country. However, the LRC is conducting the distribution of State land among the landless in an organised manner, he added.

Commenting on the child abusing incidents reported recently, the President said that the young generation should be protected and safeguarded from child abuse.

“Everyone has a responsibility to protect children since it is a national task. Development will be of no without protecting the future generation. In this regard, parents have to play a vital role. They have to have a keen eye on their children and prevent from engaging in mischievous activities,” President Rajapaksa noted.