Govt. strategy to develop three provinces

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka

The Government has focussed special attention to develop three provinces such as Uva, Eastern and Northern which are under the poverty belt for decades to be developed under a well planned strategy in the coming year to eradicate rampant poverty and uplift rural infrastructure.

According to the new development plan funds will be allocated to a Central Plan design for the Province. Rs. 50 million allocated for Members of Parliament from the Decentralised Budget, Provincial Councils and Local authorities will have to hereafter adhere to the Central Plan to conduct development projects.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa last Thursday convened a special meeting with MPs, Provincial Councillors, Local Authority members, Government Agents and other officials to discuss this issue. The development of rural areas suffered as a result of the division of authorities and wasted public funds. Many authorities conducted their own development programmes separately. From tomorrow all authorities will have to conduct development on a single plan identifying key areas, Minister of Constitutional Affairs D. E. W. Gunasekara who participated in the meeting told the Sunday Observer.

Therefore, the new strategy will shift the development concentration in the Western Province which today accounts for 50 percent of the GDP to other provinces.

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