Abstract:
The concept of rural development is used to denote the actions and
initiatives taken to improve the standard of living in non-Urban villages. It mostly aims
at the social and economic development of the areas. Many of the developing countries
have adopted number of rural development programs. In Sri Lankan context, the village
reawakening and development program Gama Neguma started by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa under the Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry in
2006. The prime objective of the 'Gama Neguma' programme is to establish
economically stable villages, consisting of communities which upholds moral values. It
is expected to build up villages with infrastructure facilities such as roads, electricity,
irrigation, water supply and other community services.
The government has spent Rs. 6.37 billion for development of the rural
economy through the Gama Neguma programme in 2010. The expenditure covered for
implementation of 32,526 projects in 10,567 Grama Niladhari Divisions throughout the
country. It includes 559 projects in the Ampara District at a cost of Rs. 317.7 Million in
374 GN Divisions. Navithanveli divisional secretariat area is one of the areas in Ampara
District in where Gama Neguma program implemented since that program initiated in
2006. Rs. 11.37 Million had allocated under the Gama Neguma programme for 29
villages in Navithanveli Divisional Secretary area.
In this backdrop, this study is to endeavor to identity what kind of works
undertaken under the Gama Neguma program in the study area. The study also analyses
what challenges are posed to the rural development of the area under Gama Neguma
Programmed. This study is based on qualitative and quantitative method. The primary
data is used mostly.
Major finding of this study is that the expectations of the program have not yet
been achieved completely in the area and works under the Gama Neguma Program is
not successful due to various reasons such as corruption and lack of people participation
etc. This study concludes with the recommendations to uplift the situations.
