Mike’s Ranch at Polgasovita grows green leaves
A Sri Lankan doctor in the United States, owning seven medical centres in Los Angeles, has temporarily set aside his stethoscope to nurture an agri-business at his native village Palagama in Polgasovita. Dr. Maithree Weerasinghe grows green leaves at a 15-acre block of land deploying around 30 rural youth most of them were from Palagama, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa areas. Green leaves such as Mukunuwenna, Kankun, Thampala and Sarana are cultivated, at his agriculture estate.
In an interview with the Business Times he revealed that within two months he has been able to cultivate quality green leaves applying mainly organic fertilizer for the export market especially to the Middle East. He noted that he named his 15 acre ‘keera koratuva (green leaves plot)’ as ‘Mike’s Ranch’ following his success in operating seven medical centres with around 150 staff including doctors under the name Dr. Mike’s clinics.
Workers take a break. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatt
Dr. Weerasinghe said that after over three decades of service in the US, he is now in a position to serve his home village which requires basic needs to improve the living standard of villagers. Agriculture industrialists are passionate about what they do.
A career in agriculture is more than just a job; it’s a way of life that agriculturalists love, Dr.Weerasinghe said. His passion stems from a deep pride in the work and the common purpose that all those in agriculture share: to provide his native village with quality food. Those who are involved in agriculture typically feel a deeper connection to the industry, as it impacts the food chain, which in turn impacts everyone, he added.With the sole intention of serving the villagers, Dr. Weerasinghe is now building a super market complex in Palagama fulfilling a long felt need. Outlining his initiative, he pointed out that the supermarket complex will be a one-stop shop for villagers living in Palagama and surrounding areas to purchase all their food and other requirements and to obtain other services like banking, financing as well as medical and health facilities. He said that he is planning to set up a fully fledged medical centre. The total investment for the project will be in the region of Rs.45 million, he said.
Outlining his marketing strategy, Dr Weerasinghe said that he is planning to sell the supermarket goods to retail shops in the area at a slight profit margin, so that villagers living far away from the supermarket can buy these commodities at reasonable prices.
.Dr. Weerasinghe received his preliminary education at Buwanekaba Maha Vidyalaya and Horana Sripali Vidyalaya and secondary education at Thurstan college in Colombo. He received his MBBS degree from the Colombo medical college in late 1970s.
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