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Rs.14b for regional projects

by Chandani Jayatilleke

The Government has allocated Rs. 14 billion for infrastructure upgrading and rehabilitation projects. The Government is in the process of implementing these projects through five Regional Development Ministries, Government sources said.

Funds from the ADB, SIDA and the Governments of China and Kuwait will be utilised.

Among the projects under these funds include - the Small-scale Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Upgrading Project (SIRUP), rural electrification, water supply and drainage, irrigation, roadways, bridges, education, roofing for houses and sanitation, sources told the Daily News yesterday.

Explaining the allocation of funds, a Government spokesman said that Rs. 5 billion has been allocated for SIRUP and the balance will be for other projects.

Funds for SIRUP and the rural electrification project have been allocated to various districts. There are 1,480 projects under the rural electrification project. Electrification projects are aimed at generating power through hydro, coal and thermal to meet the future demands of power, the spokesman said.

The Prime Minister's office in consultation with the Regional Development Ministries have worked out a mechanism to involve MPs to monitor and implement the development projects.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed Regional Development Ministries to coordinate this to ensure that the funds allocated for the projects are utilised within the specified period. All projects are scheduled to be completed by 2006.

The allocation of funds will be Western Rs. 2.1 billion, Central Rs. 3.6 billion, Southern Rs. 4 billion, North Eastern Rs. 1.1 billion and North Western Rs. 3.4 billion.

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