Sri Lanka's flagship anti-poverty initiative has utilized Rs. 23 billion of its 2026 budget to implement nearly 23,000 projects, with officials now outlining expansion plans for the coming year.
The Prajashakthi program, a central government initiative aimed at reducing poverty and strengthening communities, held a strategic review meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on August 24 to assess its performance and chart its course forward. Minister Upali Pannilage of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment led the discussion alongside Presidential Secretary Nandika Sanath Kumaranayake.
According to officials, the program has deployed Rs. 23 billion from the Rs. 25 billion allocated in the 2026 budget, enabling the implementation of approximately 23,000 projects expected to reach completion by year's end. A separate allocation of Rs. 2 billion has been designated for model projects and enterprise development initiatives that will inform subsequent phases of the program. Key administrative steps taken include the appointment of community empowerment officers to local development councils and their engagement in supporting nationwide rural data collection efforts.
Looking to 2027, program administrators have outlined an extensive agenda including the promotion of small-scale enterprises, evaluation of council performance, training initiatives for capacity building, and the launch of a three-year strategic plan. A national data and information system has been completed, with divisional secretariat officers now tasked with data entry responsibilities. According to Presidential Senior Additional Secretary Kapila Janaka Bandara, the 2027 Rural Development Plan will be constructed through this centralized data platform, with the first program rollout scheduled for Puttalam district on September 2 and 3.
Minister Pannilage emphasized the importance of coordinated action across all institutions involved in community empowerment and social protection, stressing that institutional alignment is essential for achieving national objectives.
