Rs.102 billion allocated to Provincial Councils for Ditwah disaster situation

24-Aug-2026

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Of the Rs.500 billion allocated by the Government to address the Ditwah disaster situation, Rs.102 billion has been allocated to the Provincial Councils, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to expedite the relevant projects.

A meeting to review the progress of projects being implemented by the Provincial Councils under the 2026 Budget allocations and to discuss proposals for the 2027 Budget was held at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

A total of 30,923 development projects are currently being implemented at provincial level. The progress of these projects and issues that have arisen in their implementation were discussed, with special attention being paid to the education, health, agriculture, livestock and irrigation sectors.

The President stressed the need for the Central Government and Provincial Councils to implement sector-specific projects and programmes under a common policy framework. He said it was the responsibility of the Central Government to formulate programmes based on national policies, while Provincial Councils should formulate and implement projects in accordance with those policies.

He further stressed that data and information within the government mechanism should be exchanged efficiently and that implementation should take place through proper coordination in order to prevent duplication of projects.

This would help prevent the wastage of resources on unnecessary projects and enable priority to be given to essential projects, the President pointed out.

The President also stressed the need to ensure the successful implementation of programmes carried out with foreign loans and financial assistance, complete them within the stipulated timeframe and ensure that their benefits reach the people.

Emphasising the need to maintain strict financial discipline and plan activities within the prescribed expenditure limits, the President instructed officials to complete the planning of all programmes by November so that work for the following year could commence on time.

The President also stressed the need for irrigation rehabilitation work carried out by the three institutions — the Department of Agrarian Development, the Irrigation Department and the Provincial Councils — to be implemented under a nationally coordinated plan.

He also emphasised the importance of bringing together the rehabilitation of tanks currently being carried out under various external projects under a single central mechanism.

In preparation for the predicted El Niño conditions that could occur in the future, the President stressed the need to increase the capacity of small and medium-sized tanks and rehabilitate them immediately during the short period between the end of the Yala season and the beginning of the Maha season.

He instructed officials to use the funds provided to prioritise and expedite these activities.

Special attention was also paid to the programme for restoring school infrastructure. The President stressed that the primary objective of the programme was to prevent injustice being caused to children.

Explaining the importance of visiting schools with fewer than 50 students and examining their physical condition and data before making decisions on school consolidation, the President said the Government was prepared to provide transport facilities or, where necessary, an allowance for this purpose.

He also stressed the need to expedite the planning process in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Attention was also drawn to the relationship between the cooperative mechanism and the Provincial Councils. It was noted that Provincial Councils have been contributing to measures such as providing technical assistance and equipment required by the cooperative mechanism.

The shortage of technical officers, a common problem faced by all Provincial Councils, was also discussed. The President instructed officials to prepare an accelerated programme to recruit and train technical assistance officers.

Of the Rs.500 billion allocated by the Government for the Ditwah disaster situation, Rs.102 billion has been allocated to the Provincial Councils, and the President further instructed officials to expedite the relevant projects.