Rs.77 billion development drive for 4,000 villages

COLOMBO: The Rs. 77 billion Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma islandwide development drive commenced from Kegalle and Kurunegala districts yesterday. This programme, supervised by the Presidential Secretariat, will develop 4,000 villages.

The first stage of the programme began at the Kegalle Kachcheri under the patronage of senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa.

The Jathika Saviya programme initially concentrated on threatened villages where health, housing, roads, electricity, transport and education facilities were improved in 2006.

New roads were built and power transmission lines were commissioned while ambulances and buses were also provided.

Addressing a ceremony held at the Kegalle Kachcheri, Rajapaksa said the Jathika Saviya will concentrate on areas which have not seen any substantial development. He thanked the private sector for its generous contribution to the programme.

Rajapaksa said all line ministries will coordinate their activities under the Jathika Saviya and channel resources to the least developed areas. Jana Sabhas (People's Committees) will be established in each village to implement the Jathika Saviya-Gama Neguma programmes.

Religious leaders, MPs, other people's representatives, public servants, corporate representatives, NGO workers and community leaders will be in the Jana Sabha.

This will pave the way for a mechanism that properly identifies the most pressing development needs in each village, Rajapaksa said.

Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya who addressed the gathering said the Government was able to achieve a growth rate of 7.2 per cent last year despite many challenges.

This was a victory for the people.

The jathika Saviya will bring the benefits of this economic resurgence to the rural masses, he added.