Development goes to provinces next year

The Government will in 2007 commence several programmes for regional development including the Senkadagala Revival as a part of its regional initiative under the “Gama Neguma” programme.

The projects and programmes under this initiative have been estimated to cost around Rs. 4,783 million the coming year in the Central Province.

The initiative has been spread over the next four years and the amount for the projects by 2009 has been estimated at Rs.1,4305 million. Money has already been allocated in the Budget with each project identified according to the Divisional Secretary’s Divisions. It targets several specific areas such as road development and improvement of electricity, water supply and other infrastructure facilities, livelihood and human resources development. The work will be co-rodinated between various ministries as well as the Provincial Councils with a Ministry being allocated with each project that comes under its purview. For example, in the Yatinuwara DS Division, Rs.16.8 million has been allocated to the Central Provincial Council to develop rural roads as well as Rs. 2.16 million to develop agricultural and livestock activities.

Rupees 482 million has also been allocated to the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply for the provision of safe drinking water, basic sanitation facilities and hygiene education. Similarly for the Udunuwara DS area, Rs. 672 million has been allocated for the water supply project while Rs. 24 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Railways to develop the Rambukkana railway lines and double tracking of the Peradeniya-Kandy road.

Under the Kadawatha Sathara and Ganga Watakorale DS Division, Rs. 472.55 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Road Development for the rehabilitation, widening and improvement of national roads as well as to rehabilitate bridge no 5/2 on the Kandy-Jaffna Road. In the same area, another Rs. 30.32 has been allocated to the Defence Ministry for the construction of the Kandy Police Station and the Kandy HQI quarters.