Touchwood, the only agro forestation company in Sri Lanka was the biggest contributor from the private sector at yesterday’s massive tree planting campaign the Government embarked on to mark the beginning of the second term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Touchwood General Manager Channa Abeygunawardena told Daily News Business the total value of these trees in 15 years will be Rs 100 billion.
The company has planted 200,000 high value species such as Mahogani, Sandalwood, Jatropha and coconut in five districts including a 300 acre land in Girandurukotte.
One thousand five hundred people completed planting 100,000 plants in this land within 11 minutes.
The plants will be taken care of by the company giving employment opportunities to over 200 people he said. Sri Lanka is an agricultural country and the tree planting campaign that began yesterday with the planting of 1.1 million trees is timely and valuable. This effort will encourage people to engage in tree planting which will benefit the country, National Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka President Lal de Alwis said.
“Sri Lanka could preserve the green environment that has become a tourist attraction. The environmental effect of the trees is vital for the socio development of the country. This is the first time that a campaign of this nature is conducted and is will promote tree planting as a national habit,” he said.
There is a great opportunity in the North and the East to maintain a greener environment and measures to plant trees in these areas will motivate the farmer community. This could also stimulate people’s interest. This move will enable Sri Lanka to become a green country.
The campaign should not end in a day. The tree planting should be carried out continually in time to come. The trees planted should be looked after carefully and progress monitored. The campaign is sensible and brings economic benefits to the country, de Alwis said.
source - www.dailynews.lk
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