New Department to develop Divi Neguma [January 03 2014]
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa signed the Gazette notification formally establishing the Divi Neguma Development Department today.
The notification will officially empower the department to streamline the Divi Neguma program by combining the services of five organisations including the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority, Upcountry Development Authority and Southern Development Authority in five regions.
Religious ceremonies and other events will mark the occasion in 332 Samurdhi Association in 25 districts and in 1,074 Samurdhi banks island-wide.
The department has been established to raise the living standards of 1.8 million families and thereby benefit five million persons aiming to make the country poverty-free by 2016. Under the divi Neguma national program, food security will be ensured and micro finance, physical and social infra-structure facilities will be provided to strengthen livelihoods and development at community level.