It has been revealed that development projects worth Rs. 23,000 million have already been approved under the “Praja Shakthi” national initiative, the country’s premier movement for poverty alleviation. These projects are funded through the Rs. 25,000 million allocation set aside in the 2026 Budget.

These details were disclosed during a progress review meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat, presided over by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Priority for Livelihoods and Food Security

Implemented through District Secretariats, these projects primarily focus on three strategic pillars:

• Livelihood Development: Enhancing income streams for individual family units.

• Production Economy: Strengthening the manufacturing and production processes at the rural level.

• Food Security: Encouraging and incentivizing local food production.

A significant feature of this programme is that all projects are prioritized and executed directly through Community Development Councils (CDCs).

Establishing Institutional Structures at the Rural Level

With the goal of eradicating rural poverty, the establishment of 13,977 Community Development Councils—covering every Grama Niladhari Division across the island—has now been completed. This structure effectively decentralizes decision-making power to the village level. Furthermore, the Government has taken steps to develop IT infrastructure to enhance the transparency and efficiency of the programme.

Officer Training and Supervision

To ensure the programme effectively reaches the grassroots, officer training programmes are currently underway across all 25 districts. The objective is to synergize the efforts of public officials and community leaders to achieve these development targets collectively.

During the review, it was emphasized that the “Praja Shakthi” programme underscores the Government’s firm commitment to strengthening the rural economy and steering the nation toward sustainable development.