Boosting the rural economy along with infrastructure development, this year’s priorities – State Minister Nimal Lanza

Nimal Lanza, State Minister for Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure said that the government has taken steps to implement a number of development projects this year, giving priority to the development of the rural economy and rural infrastructure development.

Nimal Lanza expressed these views while participating in a discussion on road development in the Colombo District at the ministry.

Speaking further he said,

‘In the past year, the protection of the people of the country from the Covids had been given priority and no further emphasis was given to development activities. However, a number of programs have been launched this year to promote rural infrastructure and the rural economy on the support of the public following the health care practices and vaccination program. Among them are expressway projects led by the Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando, rural bridge projects, 100,000 km development program, Ape Kade Ape Kade program and several other programs including providing concrete or interlocking for a Divisional Secretariat.

‘We are talking only about the programs implemented by the ministry of Highways and the State Ministry of Rural Roads and Infrastructure. Thus, all Ministries have implemented a number of programs to develop the infrastructure and uplift the rural economy to benefit the 22 million people.

‘We are implementing these development programs in the face of the Covid 19 challenge. In the face of this challenge, the government has taken steps to prioritize development programs this year while protecting the people of the country.

‘President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over a country that had economic and national security second only to China among South Asian countries to good governance in 2015, and in 2019 good governance handed over a country with an economy similar to that of Afghanistan and national security to zero. In such a situation President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has, reaffirmed national security.’

The minister further stated that the present government has taken steps to overcome the economic challenges by realizing the “vision of prosperity”.

State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion , Susil Premajayantha and a group of Colombo Municipal Councilors were also present on the occasion.