(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lanka today inaugurated a rapid Rural Development Project called “Gamperaliya” covering all the districts in the country to accelerate the economic growth of the country retarded by the adverse weather conditions in recent years.
The Gamperaliya program was launched yesterday from Nickaweratiya in Kurunegala district under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and with the participation of Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.
Under the Gamperaliya program several development projects will be implemented in Kurunegala, Rasnayakapura, Kaluketiya, and Bulathwewa areas including renovation of small tanks in each divisional secretariat division of the Kurunegala District.
Launching the program Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera commenced reconstruction work of the Kanuketiya Madaththawa tank in Nikaweratiya. More than 4 million rupees has been allocated to redevelop the tank which spans 87 acres.
The tank has not been renovated since it was built in 1933 in the village where agriculture is the main livelihood of the villagers. A large number of paddy fields can be cultivated with the redevelopment of the tank.
The Prime Minister issued land certificates to residents and distributed equipment to women’s organizations in the village.
The Prime Minister also opened the Bank of Ceylon and People�s Bank branches in Nikaweratiya town to issue loans under Enterprise Sri Lanka program and symbolically granted loans to applicants.
The objective of the Enterprise Sri Lanka program is to support the young entrepreneurs of the village and strengthen their small businesses.
Gamperaliya fast-track rural development program aims to develop irrigation, rural roads, schools, sanitary facilities and playgrounds, Sathi Pola, green park, electricity, renovation of religious and archaeological sites, housing development, issuing land deeds and entrepreneurship in all districts of Sri Lanka within the next two years.
The total Investment of this project is Rs. 65.811 billion. Each Divisional Secretariat will be provided Rs.200 million for the year 2018.
