During a progress review meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on October 16, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake underscored the critical role of efficient road development in advancing rural economic growth. He urged officials to streamline the procurement process for road projects, emphasizing that the benefits should extend to local communities rather than concentrating wealth among a few contractors.
Special focus was given to the ongoing construction of the Kadavata-Mirigama section of the Central Expressway. The President instructed that safety measures for railway employees and the public must be a priority in all railway line projects.
In a concurrent review of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries, and Aquatic Resources, President Dissanayake stressed the need for a comprehensive national strategy to revitalize Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector. He expressed concerns over the effectiveness of existing rural development projects, noting that while some successes have been achieved, rural poverty continues to pose a significant challenge.
Highlighting that the essence of poverty extends beyond mere financial constraints to include social marginalization, President Dissanayake called for a targeted approach to eradicate rural poverty. He proposed the development of a new, comprehensive program that addresses the multifaceted nature of poverty, ensuring that all sectors of society are included in the nation’s economic progress.
The President’s commitment to tackling these pressing issues reflects a broader vision for sustainable rural development aimed at uplifting the living standards of Sri Lanka’s rural population.
