President Anura Kumara Dissanayake directs focus on rural development, social empowerment, and disability inclusion as preliminary budget talks unfold at the Presidential Secretariat.
A review meeting on the projects implemented under the 2025 budget allocations for the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, along with preliminary discussions on the 2026 budget proposals, was held this morning (19) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The President instructed officials to ensure that allocations provided for each group are effectively utilized to improve the living standards of rural populations, enabling them to directly contribute to the national economy. He emphasized that with funds flowing into villages, rural economies could be rapidly strengthened.
Highlighting the responsibility of state officials, the President stressed the necessity for projects and programmes to be implemented systematically and properly, ensuring that the intended benefits are delivered to the people.
The President also directed special attention towards persons with disabilities, calling for all necessary measures to prevent them from being marginalized in society. He further instructed that budget proposals include training programmes for social service officers, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver services effectively and reach those in need.
Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Dr. Upali Pannilage, Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyatissa, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Senior Additional Secretaries to the President Russell Aponsu and Kapila Janaka Bandara, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, participated in the discussion.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
