Eastern revival: govt allocates over Rs 125b

Priyanka KURUGALA

The overall government investment for Eastern revival, up to end of 2011 is Rs 125.35 billion, an Economic Development Ministry report said. This amount has been allocated for the Eastern Province development programmes under the Negenehira Navodaya programme from 2006 to 2011, the report said.

The report said 77 percent of this amount had been spent for economic infrastructure development programmes.

The report added 13 percent of this amount had been spent for resettlement programmes.

Each sector as well as productive and social infrastructure were allocated five percent from the above amount. After defeating terrorism, the government has given priority to develop affected areas. The government launched the Nagenahira Navodaya (Eastern Revival) programme in 2006, the report said.

The restoration of civil administration, provision of resource allocation among all communities; speedy implementation of the mine action programme, recommencement of livelihood activities, reconstruction of damaged social and economic infrastructure and industrial development with private sector participation are some of the activities under the programme, the report said.