Cabinet approves New Village Development Authority Bill

• New Village Development Authority Bill to set up state authority to improve social conditions of estate communities

By Skandha Gunasekara

The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday gave the green light for the New Village Development Authority Bill to establish a government authority to uplift the living standards of estate sector communities.

The bill was submitted by Upcountry New Villages, Estate Infrastructure and Community Development Minister Palani Digambaram.

The bill seeks to set up a state authority which will look into and provide various services such as welfare and infrastructure facilities.

MP M. Thilakharaja, who was instrumental in developing this proposal, told the Daily FT that this was a much-needed state institute.

“We have a Mahaweli Authority, a National Agriculture Development Authority but there isn’t a proper state authority to address the needs and grievances of the  estate communities who have been neglected for decades by the private companies that they depend on to provide for their wellbeing. This is a very important and necessary authority which we hope will uplift the lives of the estate communities,” he said.  

At present there are no government institutions for the sole purpose of uplifting the living standards of the estate communities which are entirely dependent on the Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) for any welfare and infrastructure services.

The bill must now be gazetted, presented to Parliament and passed by the House for its enactment.