Oct 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa took the plough to his hand today marking the government's new approach towards the agriculture at the traditional national 'Wap Magul Ceremony' at the Balagollagama Viharagama paddy field of the Nikaweratiya Magalla Irrigation scheme.

The ceremony to mark the commencement of the ‘Maha’ season was organized under the theme “Let us grow to build the nation” by the Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Ministry.

The President appealed for the support of all sectors to build a self-sufficient national economy. He urged the Marxist People’s Liberation Front (JVP) to join hands with the government at least for a single year to build the economy of the country under Mahinda Chinthana manifesto.

Addressing the gathering the Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services, Maithripala Sirisena said that the government would embark on a three year national plan to promote the cultivation of the country’s indigenous food crops and thus would save nearly Rs.100 billion spent annually to import various food items which can be cultivated locally.