Development in Gampaha:

More funds for rural areas

Walter Liyanarachchi in Gampaha

The Government has allocated Rs. 267,830,000 for 2009 to cater to the needs and provide infrastructure facilities for the increasing population and rapid urbanisation in the Gampaha district.

The unique feature when allocating funds in divisional-wise is that more attention has been drawn to accelerate development programs in rural areas.

The Mirigama division which is an agricultural base is to get the maximum allocation amounting to Rs. 31,750,000.

Asked what programs are on line to be implemented in 2009 to meet the massive development programs needed to meet the ever increasing population and urbanisation in Gampaha, District Secretary P.A. Abeysekera said, "A series of discussions had been conducted as to how the development programs can be conducted expeditiously with the 13 Pradeshiya Sabha Secretaries and Seven Chairmen of those Sabhas. They submitted reports denoting the projects which need remedial measures with immediate effect. The proposed projects include infrastructure facilities, drinking water, sanitary, irrigation and self-employment.

"Since the Gampaha District is an agriculture base, the farmers need water, manure and an easy market for their produce."

With the funds allocated, those needs could be met quite easily since public officers' ready contribution and community participation is abundant, he said.

Rs. 16,416 million will also flow under the decentralised budget, line ministries, Provincial Councils, Local Government bodies, foreign assistance, statutory bodies and Gama Neguma. Under the Gampaha District Project Implementation Program for agriculture and fresh water fishing projects it is earmarked to spend Rs. 800 million in 2009 and for infrastructure facilities in export processing zones in the district of Rs. 104 million had been allocated, Abeysekera said.

He said plans are afoot to implement more than one project to cover all the 13 Pradeshiya Sabhas.