Development Forum tomorrow

The Development Forum in Galle which begins tomorrow will focus mainly on national and rural infrastructure development.

The theme of the forum will be 'Mahinda Chinthana' vision for a New Sri Lanka-a 10 year development horizon framework for 2006 to 2016. The forum will be inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Light House Hotel Galle.

More than 200 participants are expected to attend the event including development partners of Sri Lanka, diplomats, cabinet ministers, Key Government officials and other organisations including business chambers, trade unions and NGOs. According to Dr. Jayasundera that in 2006 foreign aid utilisation was US $ 1 billion and this year it is expected to reach US$1.5 billion with all infrastructure projects in place. All political and economic challenges will be discussed at length at the forum.

Development partners including World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and UN representatives will participate.

(AP)