Rapid national program to strengthen economy through villages: PM

Friday, 9 September 2022 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prime Minister and Public Administration, Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday announced a rapid national program to strengthen the economy through villages.

The “National Program for Rapid Empowerment of Grama Niladhari divisions as Centres for Rural Economic Revival” was initiated by involving all parties from Grama Niladhari Division level without wasting the country’s wealth.

The Prime Minister said that this national program should be implemented with the cooperation of not only the public sector, but also all parties at the village level, including the private and cooperative sectors, as well as the political authority.

The Prime Minister mentioned this while participating in the inaugural discussion to inform the relevant Government officials, including the District Secretaries across the country to launch the “National Program for Rapid Empowerment of Grama Niladhari divisions to function as Rural Economic Revitalisation Centres”. Economic revitalisation committees are also appointed at the Divisional secretariat level, as well as the Economic Revitalisation and Food Security Committee appointed in each Grama Niladhari Division. This process will be monitored by a national committee.

This “National Program” is being launched to ensure rapid re-strengthening of the rural economy as well as national food security in the country. Accordingly, it is proposed to transform the economy of the country in the next two years by strengthening the relationship between the public sector and the private, cooperative and non-Governmental sectors.

It is also planned under this national program to constantly monitor the agricultural, small and medium scale businesses of all families as well as the health status, poverty eradication and nutrition enhancement etc. through an e-data system.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Suren Batagoda, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary M.M.P.K. Mayadunne, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry Secretary R.M. Ratnayake, Agriculture Ministry Secretary M.B.R. Pushpakumara and high level public officials including Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara District Secretaries participated in the initial discussion to launch “National Program for Rapid Empowerment of Grama Niladhari divisions as Centers for Rural Economic Revival”. All other District Secretaries joined this discussion through Zoom technology.