Strengthening and reawakening rural economy through Gamperaliya Program

The Gamperaliya Program is aimed at reawakening and reviving the rural economy by converting villages into centres of focus and economic hubs. 

In the past, the urban economy was considered the economic hub that would develop the national economy. The Gamperaliya program shifts focus from urban-centric development to rural-centric development, and ensures the rural community is integrated and mainstreamed into the national economic development. The core objective of this program is to identify the needs of rural people at the rural-level and to prioritise them by formulating project proposals to fulfil the aspirations of their masses.

Gamperaliya is well known as the Rapid Rural Development Programme (RRDP) that focuses on developing the agricultural sector through the renovation of tanks and anicuts; the establishment of links between rural and urban areas and market centres through rural roads, bridges and creating connectivity; improving the education sector in the rural economy by supporting water supply and sanitation facilities to schools; constructing playgrounds and physical infrastructure facilities related to the education sector; establishing spiritual development for villages through the rehabilitation of religious places of worship; establishing rural markets known as ‘Sathipola’ and other related infrastructure facilities, are some of the 12 identified focus areas initiated to make rural economies a vibrant and active economic segment. 

Under the guidance of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Minister of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, and the Minister of Northern Province Development, Vocational Training and Skills Development and Youth Affairs, the Gamperaliya Program has been initiated and continues to strengthen rural economies and make a change in the quality of life of rural people. Through this program, every electorate has been allocated Rs. 300 million, which covers all 160 electorates islandwide, with the budget estimation of Rs. 48 billion in year 2019.

The Gamperaliya Program focuses on inclusive economic growth and development by bringing the underprivileged rural sector into the mainstream of development. The concept is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) principle of ‘Leaving No One Behind ‘said Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training and Skills Development and Youth Affairs Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy.

The program is executed by the above Ministry and implemented by the District Secretariats and Divisional Secretariats respectively. A special monitoring arrangement is setup through a two-tier system with a Ministerial Committee Review and an Officials Committee Review which will enable the timely execution of the program while ensuring results.

All 25 districts are covered under the program, and the funds allocated under the Vote on Account for the first four months amount to Rs. 15 billion which has already been allocated to 117 electorates as at 18 February. This is based on the project proposal submitted by the electorates. The implementation of the programs is currently in progress and the respective districts that have submitted proposals have received their allocations so far. 

To date, Colombo District has received Rs. 985 million, Badulla District Rs. 1,986 million, Kurunegala District Rs. 1,404 million, Kalutara District Rs. 1,321 million, Puttalam District Rs. 1,027 million, Galle District Rs. 988 million, Jaffna District Rs. 928 million, Nuwara Eliya District Rs. 878 million, Kegalle District Rs. 870 million, Kandy District Rs. 742 million, Trincomalee District Rs. 696 million, Ampara District Rs. 644 million, Gampaha District Rs. 691 million, Hambantota District Rs. 598 million, Matale District Rs. 588 million, Anuradhapura Rs. 525 million, Ratnapura District Rs. 448 million, Polonnaruwa District Rs. 398 million, Matara District Rs. 378 million, Monaragala District Rs. 371 million, Batticaloa District Rs. 348 million, Mullaitivu District Rs. 203 million, Kilinochchi District Rs. 200 million, Mannar District Rs. 187 million, Vavuniya District Rs. 140 million. Other districts and electorates are expected to receive allocations soon, said Sivagnanasothy.

Furthermore, based on the project proposals submitted by the relevant districts, the allocations have been made to the respective electorates covering all 25 districts. The balance allocation will be made based on the proposal submitted. Moreover, it is noted that the Northern Province has so far received an allocation of Rs. 1,658 million for all five districts covering Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, and Mannar, which focuses mainly on rehabilitation/reconstruction of rural roads, the rehabilitation of tanks and anicuts, and the rehabilitation of places of religious worship.

Under Vote on Account, the total fund allocation of Rs. 15 billion has been allocated to districts and a further sum of Rs. 10 billion additional allocation is received to carry this national high-priority program forward.

The Gamperaliya program will reawaken, uplift and strengthen the rural economy and thereby contribute to national economic development.