Samurdhi takes on more projects

by Rohana JAYALAL

The Samurdhi Development Authority has spent over Rs. 1,026 million to improve 3,060 villages in 317 Divisional Secretariat divisions throughout the country this year, Media Director, Nation Building Ministry, Kapila Ariyasena told the Sunday Observer .

The project has been launched in line with the 'Gama Neguma' master development drive stipulated in the Mahinda Chinthana.

The areas being focused are infrastructure facilities, livelihood and spiritual values of the Samurdhi beneficiary families.

Each Grama Seva Division will receive Rs. 250,000 to support these families to start small-scale projects in agriculture, animal husbandry, trade and industrial sectors.

The Samurdhi Authority has achieved about 97.5 per cent of its target on livelihood development of the villages, spending Rs. 560 million out of the Rs. 574 million allocated for 2008, he said.

Last year, over 30,000 agriculture development projects were implemented to encourage export oriented cultivations and home gardening, to cater to the nutritional standards of the families in the rural areas and mobilize them into the national development drive, he added.

The total number of projects completed last year under the rice processing and industries segment were over 11,200 the Media Director stated.