The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, stated that the performance-based capital grant programme would be of great assistance to our low-income local authorities in increasing their revenue.
The Governor made these remarks while addressing a discussion organized by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government on performance-based capital grant programmes aimed at strengthening revenue-generating initiatives of local authorities.
In his speech, the Governor emphasized that since local authorities must cover staff salaries using their own funds, they are under pressure to increase their income. He pointed out that several local authorities in the Northern Province are operating with very low revenue levels. Therefore, he expressed confidence that this capital grant programme would significantly strengthen them. Through this initiative, local authorities will be able to increase their assets and boost their income.
As the tourism sector in the Northern Province is rapidly growing, local authorities have been paying greater attention to related matters. The Governor noted that by utilizing these funds to implement tourism-related projects, their revenues are expected to increase. He also assured full cooperation to complete these projects before the upcoming month of September, as highlighted by Hon. Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath.
Out of 54 project proposals submitted by 22 Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Northern Province, 22 projects, one from each local authority have been selected.
The discussion, chaired by Hon. Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath, was attended by a delegation led by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry, the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, the Deputy Chief Secretary – Planning of Northern Province, the Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government – Northern Province, the Commissioner of Local Government – Northern Province, Assistant Commissioners of Local Government in the districts, and the Chairmen and Secretaries of the Pradeshiya Sabhas of Northern Province.
