The Community Empowerment Division has been established to coordinate activities related to the implementation of community empowerment programs. It also plays a role of carrying out operational activities in order to achieve the objectives of the empowerment programs such as the National Empowerment Program implemented by the Department of Samurdhi Development, the empowerment program implemented under the World Bank Funds and the empowerment programs implemented under the funds of Asian Development Bank and providing the guidance on behalf of the Ministry. In addition, this division supervises the activities of all divisions of the Samurdhi Development Department and coordinates all the line ministries, departments and institutions operated relating to community empowerment.
The Samurdhi Development Department has been established with effect from 03.01.2014 merging the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority, the Sri Lanka Southern Development Authority and the Upcountry Development Authority under the Samurdhi Act No. 01 of 2013 as amended by the Divi Neguma (Amendment) Act No. 02 of 2017. At present, the Department of Samurdhi Development is implementing projects to empower 2 million of poor, extremely poor and low-income families over a period of 5 years with World Bank loans and Asian Development Bank funds. In addition, 1097 community banks and 335 community banking societies have been established all over the island to provide loans and other services.
To enhance human resources for social development through the preparation of competent manpower in social work at all levels, generate and disseminate new knowledge and technologies for social work practice, provide specialized services for social welfare and social development
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