Decentralised Capital Budget Programme – 2021 to be implemented

Under Decentralised Capital Budget Programme-2021, each parliamentarian will be given Rs 10 million to undertake economic, social, cultural and religious development in their respective districts which are not accommodated in programmes planned by Line Ministries, Provincial Councils or other agencies.

Issuing a circular to all District Secretaries, the Secretary to Treasury S.R. Attygalle emphasised that the Decentralised Capital Budget Programme - 2021 will be implemented in keeping with the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's policy statement 'Visats of Prosperity and Splendour' to develop the country by minimising regional disparities through rural development while achieving macroeconomic goals by creating a people centric economy.

In order to facilitate the implementation of the programme, all District Secretaries are instructed to obtain project proposals which come under the guidelines from MPs by March 31 and send to the Department of National Planning with the approval of the District Coordinating Committee along with their recommendation.

Accordingly, only projects which could be commenced and completed during this year should be selected under the programme and District Secretaries need to ensure completion of the projects, including all payments within the year. The circular also indicated that continuation of projects beyond this year is not allowed.

Once the District Secretaries receive project proposals, they should forward them to respective Divisional Secretaries to obtain its feasibility within two weeks and get a certification that the proposed projects can be implemented before the end of this year.

National List MPs will also be able to submit their project proposals to the relevant District Secretaries and they should send it to the Department of National Planning of Treasury along with the recommendation, the circular said.