President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened discussions on the progress of nearly 31,000 provincial development projects and preparations for the 2027 Budget, emphasizing coordinated planning and efficient resource allocation across government levels.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a meeting on Friday to assess the implementation of development initiatives across Provincial Councils and to plan for next year's budget allocations. The discussion examined progress on approximately 30,923 projects currently underway at the provincial level, with particular focus on education, health, agriculture, livestock and irrigation sectors.
The President stressed the importance of establishing a unified policy framework between the Central Government and Provincial Councils to prevent duplication of efforts and wasteful spending. He outlined a division of responsibilities where the Central Government formulates national policies and programmes, while Provincial Councils execute projects aligned with provincial priorities. The President also called for improved data sharing and coordination across government agencies to ensure efficient implementation and timely completion of projects, particularly those funded through foreign loans and assistance.
Several sectoral issues received specific attention during the meeting. The President emphasized accelerating small and medium-sized tank rehabilitation programmes between the end of the Yala season and start of the Maha season in preparation for potential El Niño impacts. Regarding school system reorganization, the President directed officials to carefully assess schools with fewer than 50 students before consolidation, with the government offering transport facilities or allowances where needed. Officials were also instructed to address the widespread shortage of technical officers across Provincial Councils through an expedited recruitment and training programme.
The President set November as the deadline for completing project planning to enable work to commence on schedule in 2027, while emphasizing strict financial discipline and adherence to expenditure limits. Officials were further directed to expedite the Rs. 102 billion allocation from the Ditwah disaster relief fund designated for Provincial Councils.
