President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced plans to establish separate contingency funds for each district under the upcoming Budget to enable faster responses to urgent infrastructure needs.
According to the President, the proposed funds will allow District Secretaries to carry out urgent repairs to bridges, roads and public buildings identified at District Coordination Committee meetings without having to seek approval from the Central Government.
The President made these remarks while attending the District Secretaries’ Conference held today (09) at the Colombo District Secretariat.
The conference was organised to strengthen coordination among relevant stakeholders, improve the delivery of public services and promote district-level economic development by addressing local issues and identifying practical solutions.
Discussions at the conference focused on reviewing the progress of district development projects, improving coordination between ministries and government institutions, identifying challenges at the district level and assigning responsibilities for follow-up action.
The President also stressed the importance of preventing people from resettling in areas identified as high-risk. He instructed Divisional Secretaries not to approve basic utility services, including electricity and water, for such locations in the interest of public safety.
During the conference, attention was also drawn to plans to establish a special authority with statutory powers to manage environmentally sensitive land in the Central Hills. The relevant draft legislation has already been prepared, and the authority is expected to begin operations next year, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
President Dissanayake further stated that resolving housing issues faced by war-displaced communities remains a government priority, with plans to resettle 13,000 war-displaced families during the coming year.
He also highlighted the need for a systematic programme to relocate communities living in areas repeatedly affected by floods and landslides to safer locations.
The President said the Government will conduct a rapid survey to identify abandoned housing projects that are genuinely required by the public and provide financial assistance to complete those projects. He emphasised that future housing and construction projects should be implemented according to proper planning frameworks.
Addressing land management, President Dissanayake said the Government is working to release privately owned lands currently under the control of military camps while also making suitable land available for investment. He stressed that land allocated for cultivation should not affect forest reserves or wildlife protection zones.
The President also highlighted the need for comprehensive public sector reforms, including the abolition of non-productive institutions to improve the efficiency of public services.
He noted that steps have already been taken to fill vacancies in essential sectors such as health and education. Measures are also underway to urgently fill vacancies at the Department of the Government Analyst to address delays in issuing reports, which have contributed to prison overcrowding.
Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Professor Chandana Abeyratne, Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief of Presidential Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi, senior government officials, District Secretaries and Heads of Departments attended the conference.
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