Over Rs 1.6 b to develop Ratnapura

The government will provide Rs 1,603 million for accelerated development work in 575 Grama Niladhari Divisions coming under 17 Divisional Secretariat areas in the Ratnapura district, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Rs 575 million will be set apart for the one project for each village progrmame, Rs 628 million for the second community development and livelihood development programme and Rs 400 million for the Pura Neguma programme, he said.

The minister made these observations at a meeting held at the Ratnapura district secretariat on Tuesday to discuss the 2012 Gama Neguma programme. He said these development programmes would bring benefits to 1,098,808 people in the district including the 81 percent residing in rural areas and 10 percent in plantation areas.

He said Rs 628 million set apart for the second community development and livelihood improvement programme will be divided among electorates.

The Ratnapura electorate will receive Rs 132 million, Balangoda Rs 68 million, Eheliyagoda Rs 95 million, Rakwana Rs 48 million, Nivithigala Rs 5 million and Kalawana Rs 90 million. Eight villages coming under the Ayagama, Imbulpe, Kolonna, Embilipitiya, Pelmadulla, Balangoda, Kahawatta and Ratnapura Pradesheeya Sabhas will be developed as small towns by the local government and provincial councils ministry under its Pura Neguma programme.

Ministers W. D. J. Seneviratne, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, A. H. M. Fowzie, A. L. M. Athaulla, Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath, Ratnapura District Secretary Sunil Kannangara and several other Parliamentarians, local councillors and officials attended the meeting.