Performance Report – 2010 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

The government targets 2.5 millionarrivals per year by 2016 and 4 million peryear by 2020. This sector also expects tocreate one million employmentopportunities and annual income of 8billion USD by 2020. In order to achievethese targets, upscale tourism whichtargets high spending tourists is beingpromoted as an essential component oftourism strategy. Accordingly spendingper tourist per day is expected to increaseup to USD 200 within the next ten years.This sector could not achieve considerableprogress upto 2009 due to the prolongedconflict in the country for three decades.However tourism sector developmentindicators in 2010 show that this industryis growing rapidly.The Department of National Planning hascontributed to the development of tourismthrough policy formulation and guidanceand appraising project proposals.Accordingly during the year 2010 threetourism projects have been approved bythe department for implementation.Further a separate chapter on Tourism wasincluded in the “Mahinda Chinthana,Vision for the future” document.Poverty and Social ProtectionThe strategy in the social protection sectoraims at protecting, upgrading andempowering vulnerable groups anddisadvantaged persons in the societythrough appropriate governmentprogramme and coordination andregulating NGO activities. The Ministriesof Social Service, Child Development &Women's Affairs and Resettlement wereinvolved in the implementation ofresponsibilities assigned to this sector.Government implements several welfareprogrammes for the benefit of low incomefamilies and vulnerable groups such aspregnant mothers, children, elderly,disabled who are susceptible to various191shocks, particularly when they fall belowthe poverty line.The following major development projectsare being implemented by the governmentto enhance the life of the resettled peoplein the conflict affected districts.1. Conflict Affected RegionEmergency Project2. North East Local ServicesImprovement Project3. North East Housing ReconstructionProject4. Supporting Demining in North andEast5. Uthuru Wasanthay programme6. Jathika Saviya- GamanagumaCost effective nutrition interventionprogrammes for improving maternal andchild healthcare were implemented in 236divisional secretariats. This wasimplemented at a cost of Rs.388 millionand these benefited 44,594 expectantmothers. A nutrition food package worthRs. 500 per month was provided permother. Further, 873,599 expectant andlactating mothers have benefited throughthe "Thriposha" programme implementedutilizing Rs.865 million in 2010. Apackage of Fresh milk worth Rs. 200 isbeing provided per month for childrenbetween 2-5 years benefiting 82,346children in 274 divisional secretariat areasat cost of Rs.187 million per year.The School Nutritional Food Programmecovers children in grades 1 to 4, at a costof Rs. 2,474 million benefiting 736,874children in 6,248 schools in the country.The Samurdhi Social Security Programmecontinued in 2010 benefiting 1.52 millionfamilies at a cost of Rs. 9, 241 million.The cost of other benefit programmesoffered to samurdhi beneficiaries such as‘Sipdora’ school programme, marriage,death, hospitalization and child birthallowances costs Rs.50 million andbenefited 55,045 beneficiaries in 2010.Government implements severalprogrammes for disabled persons as well.