A World Bank delegation meets with Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha to discuss about water projects planned to be implemented in the future.

A special discussion was held recently at the Ministry of Agriculture regarding irrigation projects currently operating under World Bank assistance and those planned to be implemented in the future.

The matters taken up in this special discussion included giving greater attention to issues such as deploying resources for the water needs of people within the Mahaweli areas as well as improving animal production through the livestock sector. Attention was also focused on implementing certain projects more quickly and efficiently as they are being carried out very slowly. They further discussed how the remaining thirty million dollars (USD 30 million) from aid received by the country should be successfully utilized for projects.

During this, the Minister stated that one of the main aspects of the new government's policy is to focus greater attention on the sectors most needed by the people, and that these projects should be basically identified and funds should be systematically allocated for them. The Minister immediately called the Additional Secretary to the President at that moment and also directed towards a discussion about the necessary projects very quickly, since there are only sixteen (16) more months remaining to complete the projects.

The Minister stated to the delegation that his government's work program is to operate with utmost precision, giving the best to the people by discussing with each party, and allocating those funds properly for the relevant projects. This work program also earned the appreciation of the delegation.

A group of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture along with the Minister and a group of senior officials from the World Bank participated in this occasion.