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| Sunday, 18 April 2004 |
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Govt. to revive large-scale development projects by Jayasiri Munasinghe The Government will take immediate steps to revive and reactivate all large scale development projects funded through foreign aid such as proposed expressways, and power generation and water supply projects under the able guidance of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, said Finance Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama. Dr Amunugama said this after meeting Japanese Ambassador Akio Suda and US Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead who called on him at his Ministry. Dr Amunugama said there had been a tendency for almost 25 per cent of the total quantum of foreign aid received annually being lost to the country due to under-utilisation. The government hoped to salvage the country from this sorry situation and ensure full utilisation of foreign aid and implement development programs that would bring benefits to the people. This program will be implemented with the guidance of the President and the assistance of the line Ministries in charge of the respective subjects, he said. Dr Amunugama said the United States, Japan and Canada had already agreed to continue aid to Sri Lanka and assist the Freedom Alliance Government's socio-economic development program spelt out in its manifesto titled "Country Forward" ("Rata Perata"). Dr Amunugama said that a prime objective of his Ministry was to prevent development programs funded through foreign aid getting stalled halfway and steer all proposed programs to a successful completion for the benefit of the country and its people. Dr Amunugama said the receipt of a large quantum of foreign aid alone was insufficient unless it was fully utilised for the benefit of the people. Official red tape, faults and shortcomings in the tender procedure and decision-making and bribery and corruption had contributed to the large scale under-utilisation of foreign aid during the past UNF regime. His ministry has already drawn up a program to remedy this situation and ensure maximum utilisation of foreign aid for the development of the country in the interests of its people. |
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