President Calls For Plans To Prepare For El Niño Conditions

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed the need to increase the capacity of small and medium-sized reservoirs to prepare for El Niño conditions.

The President’s Media Division said the President instructed officials to prepare plans taking into account developments related to the El Niño phenomenon.

He made these remarks during a discussion on the progress of development projects being implemented through Provincial Councils and plans for the 2027 Budget.

The President also stressed the need to implement irrigation rehabilitation work carried out by the Department of Agrarian Development, the Irrigation Department and Provincial Councils under a single national plan.

He also highlighted the importance of bringing reservoir rehabilitation projects currently being carried out under various external projects under one centralized mechanism.

A total of 30,923 development projects are currently being implemented at provincial level. Their progress and issues that have arisen were also discussed at the meeting.

The President stressed the need for the central government and Provincial Councils to implement projects and programmes within a common policy framework.

He said that the government is responsible for planning programmes based on national policies, while Provincial Councils should plan and implement projects within their respective areas based on those policies.

The President also stressed the need for efficient sharing of data and information and better coordination within the state machinery to prevent duplication of projects.

He said this would help prevent the waste of resources on unnecessary projects while allowing essential projects to be given priority.

The President also stressed the need to maintain strict financial discipline and plan activities within the allocated expenditure limits.

He instructed officials to complete the plans for all projects by November so that work for next year can begin on schedule.