Colombo to allocate Rs 2 bn for projects

Colombo: A total of two billion rupees had been allocated in the current year’s budget for development of infrastructure and de-mining operations in the Eastern Province. About 5,000 persons were engaged in de-mining under the supervision of the Army, official sources of the Ministry of Nation Building said.

Human resource development projects were also started in the province and 800 persons, including women were trained last year in masonry, carpentry and other areas in a skills development programme implemented by the ministry with a view to helping the people of the East find employment abroad, he said.

The people of the East were also being educated through workshops about the development programmes implemented by the government so that it was not possible for officials to lag behind in completing the projects within the target periods, he said.