The 58th National New Paddy Harvest Festival (Aluth Sahal Mangalya) was ceremonially held today (April 4) at the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Rooted in ancient tradition, the event symbolizes gratitude for the harvest and aspirations for agricultural prosperity.
This year’s ceremony, themed “In unison, let us cultivate the land, to build a self-sufficient nation,” was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Services, bringing together farmers from all corners of the island. The first grains of the Maha season’s harvest were offered to the Sri Maha Bodhi, seeking blessings for rainfall, fertility, and economic stability.
The sacred procession, which began at Sinha Kanuwa, culminated at the Sri Maha Bodhi’s courtyard. The Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera led the religious rites, placing the first grains in a golden bowl. Farmers from all provinces contributed paddy from their regions, creating a powerful symbol of unity and abundance.
Continuing age-old customs, Deputy Leader of the Vedda Community, W.U. Bandiyala Eththo, presented a vessel of bee honey to the President, while a vessel of ghee from the Saman Devalaya was also ceremoniously offered.
President Dissanayake’s Address: A Roadmap for Agricultural Reform
In his keynote address, President Dissanayake laid out a comprehensive vision for revitalizing Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, noting systemic inefficiencies that have plagued the industry. He acknowledged the Rs. 28 billion debt burden carried by the Paddy Marketing Board and lamented the loss of harvested crops due to inadequate storage and flawed market systems.
Key initiatives announced by the President include:
- Rs. 2 billion allocation for irrigation rehabilitation, with work underway on the North Central Maha Ela Project.
- Development of seed farms to ensure self-sufficient seed production and genetic ownership protection.
- Plans to establish paddy storage facilities with a capacity of 300,000 metric tons, aiming to stabilize prices.
- Government intervention in the paddy market over the next 2–3 harvesting seasons to ensure fair returns for farmers while protecting consumers.
- Continued focus on Sri Lanka’s Tank Cascade System as a blueprint for sustainable agricultural development.
President Dissanayake also launched the distribution of pest-resistant seed paddy, reinforcing the government’s drive toward resilient and sustainable farming practices.
The event was attended by senior Buddhist clergy, ministers, provincial officials, and farmer representatives, reflecting the ceremony’s enduring national and cultural significance.
