Gamaneguma - Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project of Sri Lanka

	The Bottle Lamp illuminates Thilakapali's life

	Gemidiriya Community Development & Livelihood Improvement Project has changed the lives of thousands of people who lived in abject poverty. The story of Thilakapali in Ella Ihalagama village in the Galle district is one such example.

			Thilakapali and her family had to undergo many hardships as the sole income earned by her husband, as a labourer was not sufficient for the upkeep of her family including her twins. This was the time Gemidiriya came to their village and she also observed the way it operated. "It was different to other programs we have experienced in the past where the politicians and the officials were decided and selected beneficiaries. In Gemidiriya the villagers got together and decided who should receive assistance", she said.... more>>

	EXPO 2012


			Sri Lanka Expo-2012, a mega trade, investment and tourism promotion initiative staged under the theme of "Partnering with the Hub of Asia" on 31st of March 2012

			Art Exhibition 2011

			Art Exhibition - Reawakening Project and Second Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project - 29th and 30th November 2011 From 10.00am to 4.00pm at the National Library Auditorium, Colombo 07... more>>

Economic Ministry Workshops Build Strong North-South Ties.

		Over 1,825 persons have been trained under second Community Development and Livelihood improvement Project launched under the Economic Development Ministry's special programme to strengthen mutual understanding and build friendship between the North and South. The project commenced in May 2012 under which 2000 people were brought from the South to the North. Launched on Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa's advice the project covers 21 districts where over 52 training workshops for community resources building have been held.

	Strengthening community leaders for national development, preparing resource builders for this purpose and forging strong bonds between North and South are the objectives of this project. Villagers in the North and South will appoint these community leaders, who in turn will arrange meetings between the two communities. Accordingly people from the South will be guests in homes in the North where their hosts will serve meals and also give them presents. This North-South friendship building will be an ongoing programme, according to second Community Development and Livelihood improvement Project Director Engineer S. Liyanage. He said that the project's main target is reconciliation and to remove misconceptions caused by the LTTE which poisoned the minds of the Northerners against people of the South... More>>

	A green forest in every village.

	It will be ideal to set up a green forest in each village under the Divi Neguma and Gama Neguma programmes, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.


		He said, "We have promoted love towards forests and adopted the use of forest friendly words such as Kotuwel Kelle and Kevita in the past. In line with this tradition we hope to create a forest in each village so that future generations would stand to benefit" Minister Rajapaksa was addressing an awareness workshop on climate change organized by the UNDP at the Mt. Lavinia Hotel for state officials attached to the Divi Neguma and Gama Neguma programmes on June 29. The Minister said: "The government is striving hard to protect and enhance the country's natural environment system.

		It appreciated the warnings offered by the UNDP about climatic changes in the country, which have increased in recent times. We are duty bound to protect the environment. “Through the Divi Neguma and Gama Neguma we provided facilities to the people to ensure food security.

	We cannot stop climate change, we are however building an environment friendly agricultural industry. "We hope to bring in stringent legislation to ensure protection of forest and national vegetarian," Minister Rajapaksa said. Environment Development Ministry Additional Secretary R.A.A.K. Ranawaka and Divi Neguma programme director Jayatillake Herath were also present at the occasion.