Southern province Rural Economic Advancement Project funded by the Asian development Bank was lunchaed in November 2001 with the objectives of accelerating economic growth and creating employment and income generating opportunities in the Southern Province. The project amis, to promote private sector participation in economic development in the region and to create a conductive environment to sustain the development. the Project objectives as stipulated in the project Documentt are,

* To establish and expand micro, small and medium sized enterprises in agriculture related sectors.

* Provision and maintenance of key econo0mic infrastructure in the region.

* Enhanement of public and Private sector capacities to facilitate, support and sustain the process of economic growth.

The project is executed by the Ministry of Southern Region development and implemented by the National Development bank and Southern Provincial Council. the Project operation, supervision and cordination is done by the Project Management Office(PMO) set up in Galle, Project Management Office is headede by a project Director and Consisted of five functional Units Such as


1. Enterprise development Services Unit

2. Monitoring and Evaluation Unit

3. Training Unit

4. Infrastructure Development Unit and

Administration and Finnance Unit In adddition, there are theree district office set up in Galle, Matara and Hmbanthota to act as the regional arm of the project. All functional unit and district offices except enterprise development services unit are headed by a deputy Director either contracted out from the public sector or directly recruited for the project. The Enterprise Development service unit, though it operates as a fuctional unit of PMO, is a private consultancy firm hired to handle the enterprise development component. The team leader of the group is responsible to the Project Director concerning the activities performed by that unit.

Southern Provincial Council