Rs. 139.5 million for Senkadagala Navodaya

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

COLOMBO: The Government has allocated Rs.139.5 million for the "Senkadagala Navodaya" Programme under Mahinda Chinthana for the development of Central Province. Accordingly the ministry has implemented a number of projects covering Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts.

A spokesperson for the ministry said, a special permission has been granted by the Treasury to spend Rs.3 million from this allocation for the phase one of "Maga Naguma" project and income generating projects for Hambantota and Wennappuwa districts.

He said that the ministry has identified nine development areas under "Senkadagala Navodaya", for settlement of people who do not have land, developing industries related to special resources, development of traditional industries of up country people, development of rural markets (Sathi Pola) and infrastructure facilities, developing villages into small towns, creating economic zones based on rural economy and contribute to "Gama Neguma" are the areas identified by the ministry.

Thirty projects have been implemented so far and people of 46 Divisional Secretary Divisions will benefit from these projects, he said.