Annual Report 2010 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

Ministry of Finance and Planning Sri Lanka > Annual Report 2010investment in the education sectorhas mainly focused on upgrading theeducational infrastructure in conflictaffected areas and to develop theschools in various parts of Sri Lanka.The investment on the health sectorhas been mainly directed at improvingaccess to health services by vulnerablegroups, enhancement of health relatedinfrastructure and to implementpreventive and curative measures.In achieving the required investmentlevel to realize the higher economicgrowth expected to be achieved, thechallenge is to attract more and moreForeign Direct Investments (FDI) intothe country to supplement the currentpublic investments of 6-7 percent ofGDP and to achieve the targeted levelof private investment of 27-28 percentof GDP.Public Investment (Rs.Bn)Chart 1.23 > Public Investment-by Key Economic Sectors in1209060300HighwaysPortsPower andEnergy2009 & 2010WaterSupplySource: Department of National BudgetAgricultureSector of InvestmentEducationHealthHousing20092010Box 1.4Consultation on Provincial DevelopmentHis Excellency the President engaged in a provinciallevel consultation/review process during the period ofJuly – October 2010 with a view to identify developmentchallenges and issues, establish proper coordinationamong line ministries, provincial administration andimplement a consistent integrated strategy in the wholecountry while addressing local needs.Ministers, Parliamentarians, members of local governmentinstitutions, Secretaries of line ministries and othersenior government officials at both the central andprovincial levels, participated in this consultation process.The issues discussed are mainly on improvements toprovincial infrastructure such as roads, bridges, watersupply, irrigation, electricity as well as issues pertainingto education, health, sanitation and environment. Issuesrelating to threat to agriculture and human activities fromwild animals and elephant-human conflict came up inagricultural districts while post insurgency rehabilitationand resettlement issues were also discussed in thoseprovincial meetings.Followings are the key areas to be addressed inresponse to the issues identified and queries raised byrepresentatives from the provincial authorities.• Ensuring the welfare of the public by efficient use offunds that are allocated from the government budget.• Giving highest priority for the completion of projectswhich have already been commenced before startingnew projects.• Avoiding under performance of development projectsdue to commencement of such projects without properproject planning, project appraisal and assessment offunding.• Giving priority to the development/improvement of theprovincial and local roads, considering their poor condition.• Continuation of the focus on region specific developmentactivities in spite of the amalgamation of the RegionalDevelopment Banks.• Establishment of an Engineering Unit with requiredmachines and equipment in each district under the purviewof the respective District Secretaries/ GovernmentAgents to facilitate maintenance and urgent rehabilitationneeds arising from natural disasters/ calamities.• Strengthening administration at regional and provinciallevel by providing staff with appropriate training opportunitiesas well as the required infrastructure such asresidential quarters, replacement of old fleets of vehiclesetc.45