‘Deyata Kirula’ crowned with Rs. 59 b

By Uditha Jayasinghe

The Government is going big on the next ‘Deyata Kirula’ programme dated for 2013 with a whopping Rs. 59.8 billion allocated for projects in four districts.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told media that the ‘Deyata Kirula’ 2013 program is to be implemented covering the four Districts of Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa.

All development projects that are being implemented and those proposed in the four districts by all ministries, departments and other institutions, will be integrated under the national program for ‘Deyata Kirula’. On a proposal submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, the cabinet this week granted approval to allocate financial provision for all development activities to be carried out in the said four districts in line with the ‘Deyata Kirula 2013 National Exhibition’.

This includes rural and regional priority development projects identified by the divisional development committees and district development committees, which have been allocated Rs. 11, 316 million.

Next of the list is Rs. 45, 375 million for ongoing development projects ear marked to be completed under the 2012-2014 Medium Term Budgetary Framework. In addition, special development projects to be implemented including renovation to the Ampara Higher Technical Institute and Trincomalee Codbay Fishery Harbour have been tagged at Rs. 2, 696 million.

Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa has been allocated Rs. 500 million for a housing project in the four districts, which includes 100 houses to be built for public servants. The money is to be sourced from the National Housing Development Authority (Rs. 400 million) and the remainder from the Urban Settlement Authority under a Cabinet paper presented by Weerawansa.

“Public servants will be given the houses on the basis of non-recovery of the value of the land. A block of 10 acres situated near the Ampara town have been approved for this project,” Rambukwella said.

In total the funds for ‘Deyata Kirula 2013’ so far amount to Rs. 59 887 million. However, it was unclear when these projects would commence.