Sri Lanka, June 4 -- The inaugural ceremony of the 'Praja Shakthi Gam Dahasaka - Weda Dahasak' national programme was held on Tuesday (02) in Gampaha. The event commenced with the laying of the foundation stone for the renovation of the Pinwala Amuna at Ambagaspitiya in the Mahara Divisional Secretariat Division, under the patronage of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Minister Upali Pannilage.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Pannilage emphasised that although various programmes have been launched by successive governments since independence to eradicate poverty, it is a tragedy that nearly 22 percent of the total population still remains in poverty after seven decades. He stated that poverty has become some...