Boost for 100 low-income Local Govt bodies

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry will improve the infrastructure facilities of 100 low income generating Local Government bodies by allocating Rs.1.2 billion to implement this program in 2013 and 2014, Secretary to the Ministry R.A.A.K. Ranawake told the Sunday Observer.

He said the Ministry has identified 100 Local Government bodies which generate less than Rs.10 million per year to launch this program as they are not raising adequate funds to develop the request infrastructure facilities in those Local Government bodies. Local Government bodies in the North have also been included under the programme. People in these local authority areas are facing many difficulties due to lack of funds to improve infrastructure facilities. He said the program is now being implemented in 50 Local Government Authority areas and it will be implemented in another 50 Local Authority areas next year.

"We are assisting the Local Government bodies to improve the standard of the buildings for weekly fairs, maternity clinics, libraries, drinking water projects, rural roads, pre-schools, market complexes, bus stands and other roads under the program", the Secretary said.

He said the program will be implemented in addition to the program launched by the Ministry to assist backward Local Government Authorities under 'Pura Neguma' program.