President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called upon all District Coordinating Committee (DCC) Chairpersons to take a leading role in revitalizing Sri Lanka’s production-based economy and accelerating rural development.
The President made these remarks during a high-level discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on May 16, which included senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and DCC Chairpersons from across the country.
Highlighting the 2024 Budget’s emphasis on boosting the productive economy, President Dissanayake stressed the importance of eliminating inefficiencies and delays in the district-level disbursement of development funds.
He noted that years of inadequate infrastructure investment have hindered rural progress, and called for the effective and timely use of allocated resources to empower rural communities and address region-specific development challenges.
Key directives issued by the President:
- Ensure that DCC meetings focus on district-specific development priorities.
- Actively involve relevant subject Ministers in both planning and execution.
- Overcome bureaucratic delays to speed up fund utilization and project delivery.
The meeting was also attended by Labour and Economic Development Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando, DCC Chairpersons and their representatives, and top Finance Ministry officials.
The President’s address signals a renewed push for grassroots-led economic development with a focus on accountability, efficiency, and district-level leadership in delivering results.