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JVP damns World Bank funds
By Harinda Vidanage
The JVP, which took over some key ministries on Thursday, is to reject World Bank loans and raise public funds for the development of irrigation schemes.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the JVP's new Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Lands, is to submit a Cabinet paper to set up the people's fund for the restoration of more than 30,000 wewas which have been the main source of irrigation for the country from ancient times.

A party spokesman said the JVP politburo had decided not to accept the World Bank loans allocated for these irrigation projects and instead use the voluntary contributions.

He said Minister Dissanayake had told the ministry secretary to look into the legal aspect of this move.

According to this plan being worked out by an advisory committee, the people will be called upon to contribute about Rs. 5 each and the party hopes to collect millions without having to pay interest to any lending agency.

Area committees, including veteran farmers, will be set up to manage and maintain the wewas. The spokesman said the party was also working on the possibility of setting up farmer banks on the lines of those in India.
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