Priority for development activities in WP

Shirley Wijesinghe

A record Rs. 5576 million will be invested for development activities in the Western Province next year, Western Provincial Chief Minister Regenold Cooray told Daily News.

As per the recommendations of Financial committee, the Government had agreed to grant only Rs.2176 million. But the Provincial Council had to provide the balance Rs.3400 million out of its own revenue, the Chief Minister said.

The CM said that the Provincial Council did not receive the total expected allocations this year too. Only 49.7 percent of the total amount has been granted. The WPC was expected to obtain Rs. 1000 million under a grants scheme on 2008. But only Rs. 75 million has been released. Although Government agreed to release Rs.1870 million from the fixed grants only Rs. 450 million has been granted so far, Cooray added.