At the opening ceremony of the Research and Training Complex at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna.

Good afternoon, Wanakkam, Ayubowan, Konnichiwa.
 
Thank you very much for the very warm welcome and it is my great honour, in the presence of Honourable Ministers and the distinguished officials, both from the Government and the University, to inaugurate the new Research and Training Complex at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, funded by the Government of Japan. 
Let me also extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire University community on this auspicious occasion.
 
It also gives me great pleasure to come back here to this prestigious university, after my first visit in October 2019, and I highly appreciate the continued efforts by the university to bring this project to a successful completion.  The Government of Japan has the honor to provide a grant assistance worth    Rs. 2.8 billion to build this Research and Training Complex which comprises of both a Research Laboratory, a Processing Training Center and a Research and Training Farm together with necessary equipment.  This Research and Training Complex is expected to provide good environment for research and training for improving the productivity of agriculture and livestock industry in the  dry zone of the Northern Province.
 
As we understand, the onset of the civil war in 1983 compelled the Faculty of Agriculture to relocate from the original campus in Kilinochchi to Jaffna, causing many difficulties for both students and faculty members, including shortage of regular classrooms and lack of laboratory facilities for research and training.  Despite many challenges, the Faculty of Agriculture restored its campus in Kilinochchi in 2014, standing today as the Centre of Excellence in the field of agriculture in the Northern Province.  We are  deeply impressed to learn that, since its recent opening, the number of both students and lecturers increased twofold, manifesting the vibrancy of renewed life of this prominent academic institution.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Agriculture has been an essential sector for the Sri Lankan economy since old times and holds central importance for the nation's progress. Successive Governments since independence have placed subsistence agriculture at the center of policy making with the aim of ensuring self-sufficiency in food production and promoting crop diversification to reduce dependency on the three major crops for export earnings. H.E President Rajapaksa also attaches foremost importance to the development of the agricultural sector as an attractive industry for the youth. In “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor” and in the 2021 Budget, the President highlighted the necessity of “Research for Agricultural Innovation” and proposed to allocate adequate resources to universities and relevant institutions to enhance research facilities. I hope that this Research and Training Complex will be fully utilized in this regard.
 
The importance of agriculture and livestock industry for the Northern Province cannot be overemphasized.  The Northern Province is renowned as “the agricultural paradise” of the country and is home to the largest crop diversity in the island, all contributing to 20% of the GDP in the province.  Enhancing productivity is indispensable for further development of agriculture and livestock industry of the Northern Dry Zone.  The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Jaffna has been playing a central role in research and training for increasing productivity. We strongly hope that this new Research and Training Complex will not only empower students to become leading practitioners to apply their expertise in agriculture and livestock industry, but also help this Faculty produce excellent research which will open a new horizon for agriculture and livestock industry of this province.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
The development of the Northern Province has been one of the priorities for the Government of Japan’s assistance toward Sri Lanka. Currently, Japan is providing technical assistance to improve the livelihoods of small-scale dairy farmers in the Northern Province by increasing their productivity through the project called the “Dairy Development Project in the Northern Province”, and Japan is also developing irrigation facilities, water supply, and rural roads in the conflict-affected areas through the project called the “Rural Infrastructure Development Project”. Japan has been a longstanding friend of Sri Lanka and will remain firmly committed to continuing its assistance for the consolidation of peace and prosperity in response to the genuine needs of the Sri Lankan people.
 
In closing, I would like to reiterate my deep appreciation for the dedication of the University of Jaffna to this project as well as for the understanding and support of the Ministry of Education and the Hon. Minister of Devananda.  My thanks also go to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Oriental Consultants Global, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction  Group, Mitsubishi Corporation, and the many people involved in the construction and equipment procurement. I wish to congratulate again  the inauguration of the Research and Training Complex and wish you all present here the very best in the future.
 
 Thank you for your kind attention.