Rs 1,500 m for infrastructure development

CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE

The Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry will release Rs. 1,500 million towards infrastructure development in Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Matale and Mahanuwara districts, Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister S. M. Chandrasena said.

The funds will be allocated to five districts for the next year under the Ministry's Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma Development Programme, the Minister said.

The Ministry has obtained project proposals for 2008 from the respective Grama Niladhari Divisions under the supervision of Divisional Secretariats in the relevant districts, Chandrasena said. He said out of the proposed Rs. 980 million set out to be allocated for infrastructure development activities in the five districts, the Ministry has already allocated Rs. 533 million.

The Minister said some 991 infrastructure projects were carried out in 891 Grama Niladhari Divisions in 64 Divisional Secretariats of the respective districts with these funds.

He said a programme was being organised for their effective implementation.

"Besides a number of other development projects were carried out in them to the tune of Rs. 55 million, under the Raja Rata Nawodaya Programme," he said.