The government’s flagship initiative, the ‘Praja Shakthi’ National Programme, aimed at empowering communities and ensuring equitable economic development, is set to officially launch on July 4 at Temple Trees under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
In preparation for the launch, the inaugural meeting of the Praja Shakthi National Operations Committee was held this afternoon (June 24) at the Presidential Secretariat. The discussion was chaired by Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Upali Pannilage, alongside Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The Operations Committee comprises nine Ministry Secretaries and Chief Secretaries of Provincial Councils, and is coordinated by the Senior Additional Secretary (Development Administration) to the President, who also serves as the Secretary and Convener of the Committee.
Praja Shakthi is envisioned as a multi-dimensional framework for community empowerment, aligning with the government’s national policy priorities. As one of three major development programmes currently being implemented, it focuses on ensuring the fair distribution of economic outcomes and fostering inclusive development, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
The initiative seeks to restructure and align existing empowerment efforts under a unified, policy-driven approach. It introduces a new structural framework that supports comprehensive development planning—from identifying local needs to policy formulation, implementation, and monitoring.
Key topics discussed during the meeting included the role of provincial and local government bodies, strategies for capacity building, and the planned establishment of “Praja Shakthi Councils” to drive grassroots participation and oversight.
Currently, one in six Sri Lankans lives in multidimensional poverty, with 95.3% of this population located in rural and estate sectors. This persistent condition hampers national productivity and economic growth. Praja Shakthi aims to tackle these challenges by reinforcing social protection mechanisms and targeting vulnerable populationsthrough an inclusive and structured welfare system.
Among those present at the meeting were Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Public Administration Ministry Secretary S. Aloka Bandara, as well as other ministry secretaries, district secretaries, and senior government officials.
