Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Janaka Wakkumbura was sworn in as the State Minister of Provincial Councils, Local Government, and Environment today (Feb 20).

Janaka Wakkumbura took oaths before President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat. 

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), this appointment supplements his existing role as the State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government. (NewsWire)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has allocated Rs. 1,500 million for the “Greater Kandy Urban Development Program” in this year’s budget, State Minister for Provincial Council and Local Government Janaka Wakkambura announced. 

The State Minister disclosed that an allocation of Rs. 1,000 million has been allocated to facilitate tourists through the involvement of local authorities as part of a special project for the development of tourism.

These remarks were made during a Press Briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Wednesday (29).

The State Minister further outlined plans for a comprehensive development program in the year 2024, stating that a substantial budget of over Rs. 34,000 million has been allocated to cover all nine provinces of the island. The objective is to complete these development works before December of the following year. 

Notably, a significant portion, amounting to Rs. 07,000 million, is dedicated to infrastructure development in the North, North-East, Uva, and North Central provinces. Additionally, an allocation of Rs. 600 million is designated to rectify deficiencies in local government institutions.

Moreover, guided by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, a special project has been initiated with an allocation of Rs. 1,000 million to enhance facilities through the involvement of local government bodies, specifically aimed at the development of tourism. There is a positive anticipation to undertake a development project worth Rs. 1,500 million, complemented by the contribution of Rs.500 million from local government agencies.

Furthermore, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has allocated Rs. 1,500 million to the “Greater Kandy Urban Development Program” in this year’s budget, specifically for the enhancement of the road leading to Kandy city.

In a related matter, approximately 3,000 public servants who submitted nominations for the local government elections have been addressed. A cabinet paper has been submitted to review their appeals and reinstate them. Upon approval, these government employees are anticipated to be reemployed within a month, returning to their original place of work. Notably, a condition will be imposed, prohibiting their engagement in political activities.

Additionally, around 2,700 vacant positions for ‘Grama Seva’ officials are scheduled to undergo examination by the 2nd of December. Efforts are underway to appoint them before February 4th, 2024. Furthermore, a significant step has been taken to establish 8,400 casual employees in local government institutions as permanent staff through mandatory employment arrangements. (NewsWire)

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A project under the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government will allocate Rs. 09 billion to support the health and education sectors across all nine provinces, State Minister Janaka Wakkambura announced.

The State Minister for Provincial Councils and Local Government said the ministry is actively engaged in the project supported by the World Bank. 

“This project allocates Rs. 09 billion to enhance the health and education sectors across all nine provinces. Out of this amount, Rs. 4,500 million will be dedicated to improving healthcare services. By the end of June next year, we aim to address the health-related issues in the respective provinces,” he said.

State Minister Wakkambura also stated that the ministry is committed to providing another Rs. 4,500 million to address deficiencies in schools across these provinces. 

He added that this project is slated to commence in January and is expected to be completed within a six-month timeframe.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), these remarks were made by State Minister Janaka Wakkambura during a press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre on Thursday (Nov 02).

Full statement of State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura;

“The use of “GIS” and “GPS Mapping” technology enables us to capture the coordinates of all the roads within local government jurisdictions, facilitating the creation of a comprehensive road inventory per the Local Government Act of 1987/No. This system has already been successfully implemented in the North Western Province. A Cabinet paper was submitted and approved on the 09th of October marking a significant step towards extending this method to cover all provinces. Remarkably, we have managed to accomplish road mapping that eluded completion for 36 years, within a relatively brief span of one and a half years.

Notably, the North Central and Northern Provinces have made substantial progress in identifying roads and mapping their coordinates. We have set a target to complete this work in these two provinces by the 31st of December this year. Subsequently, a timeline will be established for the remaining six provinces, along with training initiatives to achieve our goals in 2024.

In addition to our mapping efforts, we are actively engaged in a project supported by the World Bank through our ministry. This project allocates Rs. 09 billion to enhance the health and education sectors across all nine provinces. Out of this amount, Rs. 4,500 million will be dedicated to improving healthcare services. By the end of June next year, we aim to address the health-related issues in the respective provinces.

Furthermore, we are committed to providing another Rs. 4,500 million to address deficiencies in schools across these provinces. This project is slated to commence in January and is expected to be completed within a six-month timeframe.

Additionally, we have a plan to transition 8,400 non-permanent employees currently working in local government agencies under the provincial councils into permanent government service once the cabinet grants approval. These dedicated individuals have served for approximately 15 years. With a vacancy of 10,000 positions within the provincial councils, over 6,000 have already been designated as multi-purpose workers. By the 10th of this month, we are actively working to fill the remaining vacancies with multi-purpose development officers.

Furthermore, we anticipate the completion of software development related to the online system for assessment payments, fines and property transfers within the next two weeks. The initial phase will see the introduction of online payment methods in the Central Province and Western Province by the end of this month.

In addition, a noteworthy project is on the horizon. Under the financial support of the Korean Government, the solid waste processing and sanitary landfill project is set to commence in January 2024. This project aims to address the waste management challenges faced by the districts of Badulla and Vavuniya, as well as all local government bodies.” (NewsWire)

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