Economic development, TEEDOR's main focus - Ramesh

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 March 2003, 11:28 GMT]
Farmers and officials associated with agriculture should co-operate with the Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organization (TEEDOR) to build the economic sector of the Northeast which has been badly affected by war, said Ramesh, Batticaloa-Amparai Special commander of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), speaking as the chief guest in the Farmer' day event held at the Ampalanthurai Sports ground, Batticaloa, Sunday, sources said.

Commander Ramesh hoisted the Tamil Eelam flag. Head of the LTTE political section, Kausalyan, Head of administration division, Reginald, Additional Government Agent, S. Puniyamoorthy and other Irrigation and Agriculture officials lit the ceremonial lamp. TEEDOR's Batticaloa-Amparai head, K. Nizam, presided the event.

Farmers from the surrounding areas went in a procession before the event. Cultural programs including traditional bullock cart race took place.

One farmer from each of the seventeen agricultural divisions of the Batticaloa district was presented with a golden shawl and prize money for their performance.

"Even in the midst of war our leader Pirapaharan paid great importance to agriculture and established TEEDOR to attend to the economic activities of Northeast. Colonel Karuna has provided his support and encouragement to the activities of TEEDOR. Nizam's efforts in ensuring that none of the fertile stretches of our district are unused are paying dividends.

"I urge all your cooperation to achieve self-sufficiency in the agriculture.

"Our military strength finally has brought the Government of Sri Lanka to the negotiating table. The cessation of hostilities have given our people space to rebuild their lives. We will exercise our patience and restraint in ensuring that war does not breakout again. Recent incidents at sea and our responses reflects our commitment to the peace process," said Ramesh in his address.