He made these remarks at the opening of the Agricultural Exhibition held at the Training Institute of Department of Agriculture in Bombuwala, Kalutara.

The exhibition was organized by the Western Provincial Ministry of Agriculture under the theme ‘Saru Diviyata Krushi Saviya’ will be held till today (27th Sept.).

Addressing the gathering, the President further said that more than Rs 25 billion rupees is spent annually to import essential food items. President Sirisena said that it is essential to produce food required for our consumption in our own country. He pointed out that self-sufficiency in food was the identity and the culture of our country for the past thousands of years and it should be protected. He also said it is important that we give value to our products, if we are to help the agriculture economy as well as the national economy.

The battle of National food production will commence next month, to make a new transformation in the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka, while minimizing the loss incurred due to the recent drought and floods that affected the country, reducing the agricultural production. The relevant circulars and instruction leaflets have already been issued to all institutions, he added.

Furthermore, under the battle of National food production program, it is expected to cultivate all the lands in the  public and private sectors, and the government will take steps to encourage those who are cultivating and to take legal action against those who do not cultivate, the President said that adding he believe that everyone will join hands together in this initiative considering it as a humanitarian operation to eliminate poverty from the country, but not in a way imposing legal actions or constitutional law.

Expressing his views regarding the tours he made to the USA to attend the Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, the President said that Sri Lanka has won the blessings and friendly relations with all the countries in the world including prominent world organizations such as the United Nations.

After opening the exhibition, President Sirisena made an inspection tour of the exhibition. He also opened the newly built two-storey building at the Training Institute of Department of Agriculture in Bombuwala, Kalutara, the building was completed at a cost of Rs 46 million.