President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the government intends to grant land ownership to estate dwellers and build houses for them.
Delivering the 2024 Budget Speech in Parliament today (13), the Head of State said the government has earmarked Rs. 4 billion as the initial step in this regard.
The 2024 Budget also proposed the allotment of Rs. 10 billion for the rural development in the hill country.
Addressing the parliament further during the budget speech, he pointed out that the public infrastructure and services available in the hill country are relatively underdeveloped due to disparities in the distribution of resources for various reasons.
“This disparity is also reflected in the living standards of the people,” President Wickremesinghe said noting that the government has recognized the importance of giving priority to rural development in the hill country.
Accordingly, a 10-year multipurpose rural and community development program will be initiated from the year 2024 including all the 89 Divisional Secretariat divisions that belong to the hill country areas of Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces as well as Badulla, Matara, and Kurunegala districts with an allocation of Rs. 10 billion.
