GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE TO EXPEDITE SRI LANKA’S EASTERN REVIVAL PROGRAM

The Eastern Revival Program of Sri Lanka, a program focused on the economic development of Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, includes a wide spectrum of social outreach programs. Among them are resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), landmine clearance, rehabilitation and awareness programs as well as massive infrastructure development projects such as new road networks, bridges, ports, power plants, electricity distribution networks, hospitals and schools. With a total budgeted investment of US$ 1840 million for three years ending in 2010, this program will open up an unprecedented volume of investment opportunities, where investors can enjoy up to 20 years of tax holidays, land under special concessionary schemes, and a wide range of other benefits.

The government’s new website www.neweast.lk, will be the international information gateway to Sri Lanka’s Eastern Revival Program, which also includes a very convenient on-line form for investors, volunteers, and other non-governmental partners to submit their proposals and ideas. These proposals will be speedily evaluated by a professional panel comprising of experts from the Eastern University and other universities in Sri Lanka, and selection of proposals will be based on merit.

The website www.neweast.lk will provide updated information about the developments in the Eastern Province under a very transparent framework so that interested parties can take timely informed decisions and communicate with the authorities through fast channels such as web-forms, emails, and faxes. The Government believes that this will dramatically improve the efficiency of the mammoth development drive in the East.

For further details on the Eastern Revival Program, please contact Mr. Gotabhaya Abeygunawardena, Director ICT, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo, by phone (94) 11-2354588 and by email: info@neweast.lk