The government is to shortly launch a ‘180 day development programme’ to uplift the eastern province, a top government official said.

To fulfill this task, the government is also expected to meet all the local and foreign donors on September 22 and 23, in Colombo. Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa is expected to chair the meetings, it is learnt.
The ‘180 day development programme’ is the brainchild of Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya. According to this plan, the east should be given a facelift within 180 days.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources said that this unique programme was likely to get more financial support from foreign donors, as this programme was purely aimed at restoring the livelihood of the war victims and also to rehabilitate the war battered east.

During a recent visit to the east, Minister Jayasuriya, it is learnt, has informed top government officials in the east, that they should be prepared to work round the clock to make this programme a reality.