Environment Ministry and Tokyo Cement to plant 167,500 kumbuk and bamboo saplings

On the banks of Mahaweli River

by Ifham Nizam

The Environment Ministry and Tokyo Cement Company on Thursday signed an agreement to plant 167,500 kumbuk and bamboo saplings on the banks of Mahaweli River after a recent Cabinet paper recommended the proposal.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will focus on planting bamboo and kumbuk saplings on both sides of the Mahaweli, the longest river in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the event, Tokyo Cement Managing Director. R. S. Gnanam said: ” We have previously supported a number of environmental programs. We implemented many projects especially for the protection of mangroves and their cultivation. We are pleased to work with the Ministry of Environment to protect the Mahaweli River. “Tokyo Cement will continue to contribute to the protection of the environment in the country”.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said: “We are implementing a program to curb river erosion as well as designate river bank conservation zones. This marks the beginning of the program”.

The total river basin of the Mahaweli River is 10,448 square kilometers. The largest irrigation projects and agricultural zones in the country are operating under the Mahaweli River Development Project. Under this there are several major irrigation projects including Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe, Polgolla, Bowatenna, Kotmale and Moragahakanda projects.

An estimated 167,500 bamboo and kumbuk plants will be planted under this project (20 percent bamboo and 80 percent kumbuk).

The project will be launched under the title “Iwuru Rakina Pawuru” as the first large scale tree planting project in the history of Sri Lanka.

The government will not inject funds into the project as Tokyo Cement Company is the full sponsor, a Ministry official said.

Additional Secretary to the Ministry R. M. R. Rupasinghe and other officials were also present.