Although local authorities urge the public to segregate waste, many still fail to do so, instead disposing of all types of waste together. People often overlook the fact that it is human beings who later have to sort through this waste. If they truly understood this, they might act differently. If local councils were to refuse collection of unsegregated waste, some would simply dump it on the streets. This issue can only be addressed through greater public awareness,” said the Honorable Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
The Northern Province Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, Livestock Development, Irrigation, Fisheries, Water Supply, and Environment organized the launch of the magazine Aruvadai along with the World Environment Day celebration at the Jaffna District Agricultural Training Center Conference Hall in Thirunelvely, today, Tuesday (19.08.2025). The event was held under the chairmanship of the Ministry Secretary, S. Sivasri.
The Honorable Governor, who attended as the chief guest, presented coats to the teachers in charge of school environmental clubs and awarded prizes to the winners of the student competitions conducted in connection with Environment Day.
Following that, the Governor said in his chief guest speech that there is nothing we cannot accomplish. If we have the will and desire, we can achieve anything. Service means anticipating someone’s needs in advance.
How long will we continue to call farmers “poor farmers”? Shouldn’t we strive to transform them into prosperous farmers? It is time to think differently. In the 1970s, the homes of farmers in our region were upgraded to stone houses. I believe similar positive changes can be brought to farmers’ lives during the current government’s tenure.
A major challenge here is the lack of stable prices for farmers’ produce. This instability forces many to abandon farming. To address this, we have taken steps to convert agricultural products into value-added goods and promote exports. Through these efforts, we can ensure farmers receive consistent and fair prices for their produce.
For the successful conversion of agricultural products into value-added goods, investors must be encouraged to come here. I am optimistic that they will arrive in the future.
I know of many who left government jobs in the past to pursue agriculture, as farming offered greater opportunities. We need to recreate that favorable environment once again.
Similarly, we want to attract more tourists. But is our city clean enough to welcome them? Our city was the cleanest in Sri Lanka in the 1970s, but today, it has been neglected. Each one of us is responsible for this decline. We are facing the consequences of everyone failing to fulfill their duties. Let us all work together to change this from now on, he concluded.
The guests of honour at the event included A. Siri, Secretary of the Provincial Public Service Commission; Mrs. Malathy Mugunthan, Jaffna Zonal Education Director; the Director of the Northern Provincial Department of Animal Production and Health; the Additional Provincial Director of the Department of Agriculture; the Deputy Director of the Irrigation Department for Vavuniya District; as well as farmers, students, and teachers.
Following the event, under the Provincial Specific Development Grant Fund (PSDG), seed paddy, irrigation machinery, row sowing equipment, and onion storage sheds were distributed to farmers. Additionally, the Governor presented cheques to farmers for the reconstruction of agricultural wells.
