“The success of Gemidiriya that is demonstrated today is due to the application of principles of good governance. The principles you call them as ten golden rules have been in our culture, in our blood,” said the Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapakse at a community meeting held at Buruthagolla Wewa Pedesa village in Moneragala district recently.
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“Those are the values we had from the past and did not lose even under colonial rule. Today projects in India and Bangladesh are ready to follow the Gemidiriya model and we have no doubt in applying the model to the Gama Neguma program”, Rajapaksa said. |
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| Rajapaksa was on a visit to Gemidiriya villages to see the progress of the Gemidiriya project. Minister of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Jagath Pushpakumara, World Bank Country Director Naoko Ishii, Gemidiriya Task Leader Dr. Meena Munshi, Co Task Leader Dr. Terrence Abeysekera of the World Bank, Gemidiriya CEO Dr. Gamini Batuwitage, and officials of Presidential Secretariat together with the Government Agent of the Moneragala district accompanied the delegation. |
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| “Gama Neguma is a large rural development and poverty alleviation program launched in 4,000 villages in Sri Lanka under the “Mahinda Chintana” policy statement of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Government expects WB financial assistance for the Gama Neguma program and the WB had agreed to consider financing the program if Gama Neguma follows the Gemidiriya model. They visited Buruthagolla Village, off Buttala in the Moneragala district and Rathnadeepa village in Kiriella, Rathnapura District and observed how Gemidiriya communities have addressed the rural development issues successfully. |
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| Gemidiriya is a government’s community development and livelihood improvement project operational under the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development. The project is now successfully implemented in 535 villages in Sri Lanka.
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| The delegation visited “Saviya” the brush handle manufacturing factory, a collaboration between the corporate sector and the Mudunkotuwa West Gemidiriya People's Company in Kiriella. The factory is a Gemidiriya livelihood development project initiated by a Small Group in the village. The total production of the company is supplied to Ravi Brush (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Hayleys Group. The delegation accompanied by Minister of Youth affairs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, to see the infrastructure projects completed by Gemidiriya peoples companies in Kiriella. People explained to the delegates how the Gemidiriya development process functions with broad community participation, the decision making power in relation to village development that people regained under Gemidiriya and how they prioritise their development needs. |
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The Group of 12 Investors
We are factory owners. “Saviya” brush handle-manufacturing factory in Kiriella, collaboration between Gemidiriya Peoples Company and the private sector.
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| In Buruthagolla, people explained how they completed a Rs.900,000 worth community building at a cost of Rs.600,000 with community contribution sans corruption and wastage. The delegates attended a community meeting and also held discussions with people on how the Gemidiriya drives the village to prosperity. |
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| Addressing the meeting minister Pushpakumara said that the World Bank agreed to fund the Gemidiriya project on the government’s request and today it has proved to be a success. Now a larger rural development program Gama Neguma is ready to get off the ground. Our objectives are the same be it Gemidiriya, Gama Neguma or Samurdhi. The government wants to develop rural areas. If one model is proved a success, we are ready to share that experience in the other projects, he said.
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| WB country director Ms.Naoko Iishi said that the Gemidiriya model will be followed by similar community development programs in India and Bangladesh. I am happy to inform you that delegates from the two countries will be visiting Sri Lanka to witness the success and follow you, she said. |
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| We did see the products you have produced under livelihood projects. We heard how you market your products. We did see your plans to improve your road infrastructure, water supply facilities and the construction of community buildings. You are working to develop your villages and the World Bank will help you, Iishi said. |
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Gama Neguma is a good poverty alleviation program and the World Bank is ready to assist it. Government believes that it will improve the living standards of the rural people once implemented in 4000 villages. Iishi said that the ten golden rules of Gemidiriya are suitable even for the World Bank to follow. These rules can be applied to the Gama Neguma as well, she said.
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