The venue was the Mahaweli Centre at Digana Village.

Minister Sirisena noted that the politicians whose sole ambition was to gain control of the Parliament should to responsible for the down-fall of the economy and the weakening of local production.

Power hungry politicians, since regaining independence from the British, gave assurances that they would supply goods specially food at cheap prices. As a result the Sri Lankan market was flooded with imported food items and the country became poorer and poorer, he saidd.

While food production was discouraged on one hand, on the other hand artificial fertiliser was recommended for agriculture in Sri Lanka. The very scientists who recommended the artificial fertilizer then are now recommending the use of carbonic fertiliser, Minister Sirisena said.

"The country became poor owing to the politicians who had no love for the country. But now we can be proud that we have a leader who has a love for his motherland. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, because of his patriotism, takes a genuine interest in the development of the country, Sirisena said.

He said, President Rajapaksa had directed officials to make every effort to increase local production and discourage the use of imported fertiliser. In the year 2006 when the local food production scheme was launched Sri Lanka imported 900,000 metric tons of food. This has now brought down to 400,000 metric tons. Import of maize has been reduced to 80 percent.

Steps will be taken to lower the percentage of imports.

With the issue of instructions to grow more food, over 100,000 home gardens started during the year.

One third of the food requirement of the country is still imported. With the food scarcity experienced globally people of Sri Lanka will be compelled suffer if food production is neglected.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle told the meeting that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was determined to make the country self-sufficient in food just as he crushed the 30-year-old terrorism, with its leader Prabhakaran who was believed to be undefeatable.

When President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the assurance during election time that he would rout out terrorism some leaders of the opposition ridiculed the statement. But now it has become a reality, Minister Rambukwelle said.

When LTTE terrorism was defeated, critics caused alarm that the donor countries would cease to grant aid and that western powers would fall out with Sri Lanka.

During a period of thirty years after the country’s Independence in 1948 Sri Lanka suffered under the terrorism of Prabhakaran, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella added.