WPC makes highest allocation for education

Chaminda Perera

Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranathunga yesterday presented the 2013 budgetary proposals of the council aimed at massive development in the field of economy, health, power and energy and many other sectors under the 5 year strategic plan based on nine fold economic targets.

The Council has laid more emphasis on the development of education sector too by making the highest allocation amounting to 40.07 per cent or Rs.16,497 million of the 2013 budget.

The Chief Minister said plans are under way to increase the percapita income of the province from US$ 3,750 to US$ 5,750 by 2016 while maintaining the province's contribution to the country's Gross National Products at 45 per cent.

He said the Council has invested more than Rs. 14, 735 million for 31,050 projects in the province during the last five years and these projects helped reduce the poverty level of the province from 15.6 per cent to 8.9 per cent and the unemployment level from 8 to 06 per cent.

"The total estimated cost of the budget is Rs. 40, 190 million, while Rs. 35,071 is recurrent expenditure. Capital expenditure is Rs 5,119 million which is 12. 74 per cent of total expenditure expected to be borne within the year, " Chief Minister Ranatunga said.

The council intends to collect Rs. 29,617 million to cover up these expenses and the Council expects from the Central Government Rs. 10,753 million as grants.

"In comparison to year 2012, the Finance Commission granted Rs, 2,267 million under provincial specific grants and criteria based grants. This commission has agreed to provide a sum of Rs. 1636 million under this, he said.

The Chief Minister said a number of programmes are being implemented in the province to bring the results of year five scholarship examination, GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations to optimum level under his directives.

He said over 67 per cent of students who sat for G.C.E Ordinary Level examination became eligible for Advanced Level due to this programme and he intends to increase this percentage up to 74 per cent by 2016.

"There are 91 schools in the Western Province which are facing the danger of closure due to existence of less than 50 students. We have launched a program to increase the condition of these schools under Supasan Nimthera programme", he said. He said that the number of such schools would be reduced from 91 to 17 by 2016.

"The 2013 budget of the council has also aimed at reducing Head Count Index of poverty which was 4 per cent in 2010 down to 1 per cent in 2016," he said.

The Chief Minister said Rs. 8638 million would be allocated through the 2013 budget for the local government bodies in the province.