Five years of development - Matale district:

A vibrant business hub

by Ranil Wijayapala

The bustling city of Dambulla popularly known as the sleepless city, the historic Dambulla cave temple, the Sigiriya Rock fortress and the cave temple in Matale are places of attraction not only in Sri Lanka but also in the world which resembles one of Sri Lanka’s agriculture based district now transforming into a vibrant economic centre in the country.

The Matale district which is a part of the Central province and also a region that links more than six districts together is fast becoming a centre of development following the solid foundation laid by the UPFA Government during the past few years.

Due to the rapid development drive initiated by the UPFA Government specially focusing on the agriculture based economy and the promotion of tourism which has become the main livelihood of the population of the district, the people are now enjoying a better life.

The district which comprises 1993.9 sq. km land area, inherits the most fertile lands in the country coupled with a hilly terrain with scenic beauty and historical value.

According to Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon the district has benefited by all forms of development activities initiated by the Government for the past five to six years.

It was for the benefit of more than 471,000 people living in the Matale District which comprises 11 Divisional Secretariat Divisions and 545 Grama Niladhari Divisions covering a total of 1,373 villages.

The Government spent a huge amount under the decentralized budget for the development of rural roads, irrigation, agriculture, education, water supply, health, electricity, fisheries and social welfare projects.

According to Minister Tennekoon over Rs. 103 million had been invested in the development projects in the Dambulla Divisional Secretariat division alone during the last year.

Minister Tennekoon emphasised that the development of Matale district was also a part of the Government’s development program, implemented in the country even during the war through the divisional secretariat areas.

The available statistics indicate that in 2007, 172 rural road development projects were implemented at a cost of Rs. 8.45 million, one irrigation project Rs. 0.15 million, 65 educational projects Rs. 3.64 million, 74 electricity projects Rs. 5.15 million, 103 social welfare projects Rs. 5.52 million, and 6 sports projects Rs. 0.335 million.

In 2008, under the decentralized budget, 114 rural road development projects Rs. 6.04 million, 7 irrigation projects Rs. 0.5 million, 12 agricultural projects Rs. 0.8 million, 51 educational projects Rs. 2.32 million, 16 water supply schemes Rs. 1.25 million, 15 health projects Rs. 0.76 million, 94 electricity projects Rs. 7.01 million, and 179 social welfare projects 7.93 million were implemented.

In 2009, under the decentralized budget, 122 rural road development projects at a cost of Rs. 5.46 million, 8 irrigation projects Rs. 1.05 million, 64 educational projects Rs. 2.52 million, 9 water supply schemes Rs. 0.38 million, 10 health projects Rs. 0.97 million, 92 electricity projects Rs. 6.42 million, and 90 social welfare projects Rs. 7.74 million were implemented.

These development projects have contributed immensely to the development of much needed infrastructure facilities to expedite the development activities in the district, according to Minister Tennekoon.

People have been immensely benefited from these development projects as the standard of their lifestyles has improved with the construction of new roads and health facilities

More than 425 projects including rural development, irrigation, agriculture, education, water supply, health, electricity, fisheries, social welfare and sports were implemented in the year 2007 at a cost of Rs. 24.54 million. In 2008, 488 projects were implemented at a cost of Rs. 26.61 million, 395 projects in 2009 at Rs. 24.27 million. The Government provided the funds expenditure through the decentralized budget.

According to Minister Tennekoon over 85 per cent of the Matale district population have been provided with electricity and almost all the roads in the district have been developed during the past five years.

“Matale district with its speedy development drive keeps pace with the country’s economic growth rate”, the Minister added.

He said that the Greater Dambulla Development Programme brought prosperity to the people in Dambulla which is now developing as a transit point especially to the people travelling to North and East.

“Under greater Dambulla development project we have developed the main roads in Dambulla into four-lane roads and have brought all the administrative buildings under one roof enabling the people to transact their business with much ease, the Minister added.

“Many other projects like a granary at Galewela, export crop centre in Pallepola will also be established under this project”, the Minister added.

“The dedicated economic centre in Dambulla has also been given priority under this project”, he said.

Under Gama Neguma Jathika Saviya program too, the Government expended huge sums in the Matale District. Under this programme, the Government expended Rs. 106.94 million on 159 rural road development projects, Rs. 14.96 million 8 irrigation projects, Rs. 2.74 million 3 water supply schemes, Rs. 2.42 million 21 building expansion projects and Rs. 0.93 million a sports project.