The Local Government Elections Act will be resubmitted to the Parliament tomorrow (6), after certain printing mistakes in the Sinhala version are corrected, according to the Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils H.T. Kamal Padmasiri. 

Minister Faiszer Musthapha, who also spoke during the press briefing held in Colombo today (5), announced the completion of several mega roads, water, sewage and sanitation, buildings, schools parks and related infrastructure projects across the country. 

He stated that the development projects rolled out in several provinces in the past 3 years, earned the ministry a number one position, from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, in the effective use of the allocated capital budget. 

Some of the infrastructure measures implemented island-wide so far include the upgrading of road network (1,378k), 813 new bridges, 141 market complexes and weekly fair centers, 38 children’s parks, renovation and construction of 586 schools, 207 laboratories, 340 Emergency Treatment Units (ETUs) and 1,812 maternal and child-care clinics. 

Other measures include waste water management and solid waste management, particularly in the Northern Province resulting in minimizing the impact of floods in 1,100 acres of paddy lands, the ministry said.

The average annual household income in the area has increased from Rs. 85,413 to Rs. 203,661 with the increase of the extent of cultivated land up to 2,000 acres with effective production of paddy from 80 bushel per acre, being the outcome, it said. 

“Locally-led developments have enormous potential to deliver the scale and quality of lifestyle growth among communities across Sri Lanka which is an absolute need,” Faiszer Musthapha said. 

“By providing basic facilities such as access to main roads, well-designed schools and public areas, mitigating the negative effects of flooding and natural disaster and supporting our local authorities, all enable better and enhanced lifestyle which contributes to a nation’s growth.”

“We will build a country that we deserve,” he added.