Only Rs. 23 million out of the Rs. 574 million allocated for Hambantota District under the Southern Province Development Programme this year has been utilised so far—just 4% of the total—according to revelations made at a high-level meeting on 11th of July.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the Hambantota District Special Coordination Committee at the District Secretariat, expressed deep concern over the lack of progress in utilising development funds. He questioned officials on the delays and urged them to expedite the use of the remaining allocations for the benefit of the people before the year’s end.
The President stressed the need for strong collaboration between political leaders and public officials, emphasizing that national progress cannot be achieved through isolated efforts. “We need a unified system where everyone supports the government’s efforts to serve the public,” he said.
Key challenges discussed included bottlenecks in agriculture, fisheries, health, education, rural roads, land, and irrigation sectors. The meeting also reviewed the 2025 Budget allocations and the progress of ongoing and upcoming projects.
Addressing land issues, the President warned against arbitrary land distribution and called for a policy that promotes economically productive land use. He highlighted the need for a cultural shift in land management to support long-term national development.
