The government has decided to create 200,000 self-employment opportunities by 2021 with the aim of reviving the rural economy which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 epidemic and strengthening the livelihoods of the people.

Basil Rajapaksa, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation, has decided to hand over the leadership of this program to direct the Samurdhi recipients to livelihood to the Samurdhi Managers and Samurdhi Development Officers while 25,000 new outlets are to be opened for rural products next year.

Accordingly, Samurdhi Managers and Samurdhi Development Officers will take the lead in the process of directing Samurdhi recipients to livelihoods under the Rural Economy Building Program, Basil Rajapaksa said while participating in a discussion with Samurdhi managers at Temple Trees on the 28th.

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