Gemidiriya in Athimalai

The first inter-village connectivity project in the Moneragala district under the Gamaneguma Second Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project was launched recently at Athimalai in the Siyambalanduwa Local Authority area.

Under the project the 10.2 km-long Athimalai-Wattarama-Kotiyagala road will be developed connecting several underprivileged villages in the area. Over 3,730 families will benefit from the project. The total cost of the project is Rs 67,706,589 and the community will contribute Rs 10,091,038 of the cost. The project will be implemented by Gemidiriya with technical support from the Uva Provincial Road Development Authority monitored by the Siyambalanduwa Local Authority (Pradeshiya Sabha).

The launching ceremony of the project was held in the Athimalai Pradeshiya Sabha grounds with the participation of Minister of Nation Building Jagath Pushpakumara and Minister of Child Development and Women's Empowerment Sumeda G. Jayasena and other officials.

Minister Pushpakumara said that the infrastructure projects which had been implemented by Gemidiriya through rural communities had proved to be a resounding success.

Gemidiriya, was the first project to disburse money to the community to implement their own infrastructure projects, the Minister said. The new Athimalai-Wattarama-Kotiyagala road will open an easy access road to Athimalai from the Siyambalanduwa town reducing the travelling distance by 12 km.

The inter-village connectivity project has planned to develop five rural roads in the Moneragala district.