Rs. 2,500 m development drive for South

Rasika SOMARATHNA

COLOMBO: The Government has embarked on an expedited mega development drive for rural villages in the South for which Rs. 2,500 million has been allocated in line with the Mahinda Chinthana 10-year development plan.

According to the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development, the allocation is to be utilised in 2,122 identified Grama Niladhari Divisions in three districts, under the Gama Neguma programme, envisaged to propagate development in remote villages.

The programme expected to be completed before year end, is to target infrastructure development, livelihood projects and education initiatives aimed at spiritual development.

The development process is to be carried out in 896 Grama Niladhari divisions in Galle, 650 in Matara and 576 in the Hambantota district. According to sources the main focus would be on livelihood projects, with the setting up of industries using locally based material in remote villages to provide viable income earning opportunities for the rural community.

In addition, a new fishery harbour at a cost of Rs. 7, 900 million is to be established in Dickowita, which is expected to propagate development in this sector, specially in areas North of Colombo.

Ministry sources said that the proposed harbour to be located in a 13 hectare land would be equipped with modern technology according to international standards with the Netherlands Government providing 65 per cent of the total cost.

Also 10 other development initiatives have been mooted in several areas in line with the Government’s ‘Development of Village Industries’ programme. This is expected to generate 2,500 direct employment opportunities.

Accordingly three separate production factories are to be established in Puttalam for brass products, steel nails and for hand woven material.

In Kundasale\Kandy two projects are to take place in the form of a production facility for sweets and a factory for packaging products.

In Matugama two factories are to be established to produce cosmetics and travelling bags. In Polonnaruwa a factory to produce rubber goods out of recycled rubber is to be implemented with a facility to produce polythene products to be established in Panadura. A large scale steel production facility has been planned in Trincomalee and a paper bag factory in Dankotuwa.

The Government has taken steps to implement another trade zone in Galigamuwa/Kegalle at a cost of Rs. 175 million.

The project expected to be completed before the end of the year would enable at least 3,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities and is also expected to give prominence to local investors.