• Projects worth Rs 22.4 b underway across the country

A total of 15,646 development projects have so far been launched across the country under the Praja Shakthi national programme to eradicate poverty, with their combined value estimated at Rs 22.425 billion, according to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.

The programme is being implemented jointly by the Rural Development Bureau and the Praja Shakthi National Secretariat under the Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Ministry.

The programme aims to implement at least one development project in every Grama Niladhari (GN) division. 

The Government has allocated Rs 25 billion for the programme through the 2026 Budget.

Of the 15,646 projects launched so far, 8,323 projects, or 53.2 per cent, are livelihood development projects. The remaining 7,323 projects, or 46.8%, are focused on infrastructure development.

A progress review of the Praja Shakthi projects being implemented in the Nuwara Eliya District was held at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat auditorium under the chairmanship of the subject Minister, Dr. Upali Pannila.

A total of 786 projects are expected to be implemented in the Nuwara Eliya District, with a combined estimated value of Rs 997.84 million.Of these, 263 are livelihood development projects, for which an estimated Rs 296.19 million has been allocated. A further 286 projects are infrastructure development projects, with an estimated allocation of Rs 543.22 million. The remaining projects fall under other development activities covered by the programme.

The meeting was also informed that Rs 182.5 million had been allocated for 2026 to provide technical equipment and facilities to Praja Shakthi units established at District Secretariat and Divisional Secretariat levels as part of the national poverty eradication programme. Each unit has been allocated Rs 500,000 for these facilities. A further Rs 365 million had been allocated for the same purpose in 2025.

The Minister instructed officials to accelerate all development projects and complete them as soon as possible so that they could be handed over to the public. He also instructed officials to maintain financial discipline and ensure that the maximum possible benefit from the development projects reaches the people.