More than 100 income-generating projects are being launched across the country this year under the government’s “Punarudaye Purawara” national programme, with Rs. 2,500 million allocated to strengthen the financial independence of local government institutions.
The projects are aimed at creating new sources of revenue or improving existing revenue-generating activities of local government institutions, while improving the living standards of people in their respective areas.
The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government said the allocation was made through performance-based capital grants under the 2026 Budget.
Project proposals were called from local government institutions and evaluated by a special committee based on factors including their existing revenue levels, performance during the previous year and their ability to recover the full cost of the proposed project within five years.
The approved projects cover a range of areas, including shopping complexes, fitness centres, building-material testing laboratories, concrete production facilities, drinking-water projects, agricultural development projects, paddy-drying centres and tourism facilities.
Other projects include indoor sports facilities, solar power systems, preschools and children’s parks, local food production and processing centres, restaurants and cafeterias, funeral halls and crematoriums, tourist bungalows and holiday resorts, auditoriums, parking facilities, electric vehicle charging stations and vehicle service centres.
The ministry said the launch ceremonies for the projects were held across the country on Friday (14).
The programme is intended to help local government institutions become more financially self-reliant rather than depending solely on allocations from the central government.
Under the same national programme, a major project to construct 800 rural bridges was launched across the country on July 14.
Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Chandana Abeyratne presided over one of the project launch ceremonies held in Puttalam, while Provincial Councils and Local Government Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunarathne presided over launch ceremonies in Hambantota and Kurunegala respectively.(Newswire)