New rural development initiative in place of Gamperaliya
Posted on December 24th, 2019
by Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy Island
Having terminated Enterprise Sri Lanka loan scheme and Gamperaliya launched by the previous UNP-led coalition to spur economic growth at electorate level, the new government announced a new initiative to develop villages.
In accordance with the latest development initiate, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government will allocate Rs. 2 mn each to 14,021 villages next year, whereas in terms of the Gamperaliya project, the previous government provided Rs 300 mn apiece to electorates.
The UNP launched Enterprise Sri Lanka and Gamparaliya in August and September 2018, respectively, in the wake of the debilitating setback it suffered at the Feb 2018 Local Government polls.
Responding to a query, sources said that a thorough assessment of Gamperaliya and Enterprise Sri Lanka was yet to be made.
Both projects were suspended immediately after the then President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The UNP resumed both projects after Wickremesinghe regained the premiership in Dec, 2018.
According to the Finance Ministry, the cabinet recently approved funds amounting Rs 28,042 mn for the project. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the minister of finance, economy and policy development has proposed the project.
The Finance ministry said that the project would be subjected to government procurement procedures and financial regulations.
The government intends to launch village-level projects in January 2020 and complete them before end of Nov, same year.
The government has directed the formation of civil committees at village level with the relevant development officer as the convener to spearhead the projects.
The Finance Ministry has set Dec 27 deadline for formation of committees and handing over of project proposals were to be completed by Dec 31, 2019, the ministry said.
Economic and Policy Development State Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne briefed local government representatives of the new development initiative. Minister Seneviratne advised those responsible not to undertake projects which required approval from various state institutions such as the Wildlife Department. The minister said that four villages could get together to implement a project if all committees could agree on a desired project.