Mega boost for Gama Neguma

Mohammed Naalir and Wellasse Bandara

The Government has allocated massive funds under the Jathika Saviya and Gama Neguma-2008 national programme in May for District Secretaries to start 9,243 projects to develop 14,000 villages, Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry Secretary K. K. Kumarasiri said.

He said the projects will be implemented based on rural livelihood development, social development and infrastructure development in selected villages .

This project will be implemented under the Jathika Saviya and Gama Neguma projects on senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa’s directives.

On the directives of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister Jagath Pusphakumara, 1,048 projects will be implemented in Badulla, Ratnapura, Moneragala and Nuwara-Eliya districts. The Government has distributed Rs. 52.4 million to those respective District Secretaries in May.

He said Rs. 55.4 million has been reserved by the Government for Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Jaffna Districts for District Secretaries to implement 1,566 projects. Nation Building Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardane will be in charge for the Colombo District.

A sum of Rs. 27.3 million has been set aside for 1,074 projects in Anuradhapura, Polannaruwa, Kandy, Matale and Vavunia Districts on Nation Building Minister S. M. Chandrasena’s supervision.

Another Rs. 60.4 million has been reserved for 666 projects in Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts.

Three thousand and sixty projects have been approved for Kurunegala, Kegalle, Puttalam and Mannar Districts. Rs. 79.5 million has been allocated to those districts.