ARMY'S CORPS OF AGRICULTURE & LIVESTOCK ESTABLISHED

The formal raising orders for its establishment was signed by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) who is also the heavyweight behind the realization of the new Corps which could in future demonstrate and execute amazing military capabilities in this vital domain of national importance as has already been done elsewhere in the field of national infrastructure, urban beautification, tree planting, digging of new tanks, construction of public utilities, development of public facilities, cultivations, road constructions, varying renovations, etc.

The proceedings, related to the inauguration of the new Corps took place at Sri Jayawardenapura Army Headquarters.

A pictorial display of ongoing projects of the DAL and with some of the model samples put up at the entrance, invited the observation of the day's Chief Guest before the symbolic signing of raising orders and proceedings got underway.

After the raising orders were symbolically signed by the Army Chief, Major General Kandanaarachchi presented copies of a booklet that incorporates the series of DAL projects that have been so far effected under the Commander's 'Thuru Mithuru Nawa Ratak' project and planned ones to the day's Chief Guest and other invitees.

General Shavendra Silva in his brief talk to the occasion afterwards underlined the importance of the day's gesture as another challenge where the Army is capable of demonstrating its multifaceted capabilities and able to earn an impressive reputation by closely collaborating with all agrarian stakeholders in its journey towards assisting nation-building tasks, as entrusted by HE the President placing the fullest confidence in the Armed Forces.

The newly-raised Corps of Agriculture and Livestock expects to strategically support the state sector initiatives at the national level to establish agriculture resource centres, improvement to freshwater fish-breeding, the establishment of cold storing facilities and a tri-service agrarian research and development centre while extending maximum support to further improvement of the agrarian sectors in both state and private sector initiatives.

The DAL in the Army while maximizing the use of Army lands for agricultural and dairy purposes has been engaged in the production of paddy, vegetables, eggs and several varieties of essentials to the Army through its Kandakadu, Menik Farm, Vellamkulum, Galkanda, Palatupana, Adiyapuliyankulam, Balalla and Niraviya farms.

At present, DAL troops have embarked on the cultivation of paddy under 'Thuru Mithuru-Nawa Ratak' project, 1,000 acres of coconuts, 500 acres of TEJC mangoes, 2000 acres of cashew, 200 acres of chillies, production of yoghurt, curd and eggs with 100,000 layer hens, ration packs using local raw materials, salt, tomato sauce, and compost fertilizer and also the cultivation of 100,000 turmeric saplings, etc.