Function

After that, the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment was formally established under the Gazette Extraordinary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka No. 2412/8, dated November 25, 2024. The Ministry is dedicated to fostering sustainable development in rural areas of Sri Lanka, enhancing social security systems, and empowering communities to cultivate self-reliance and independence. The current duties and responsibilities of this Ministry are as follows:

1. Formulate, implement, monitor, and evaluate policies, strategies, programmes, and projects related to rural development, social security, and community empowerment, aligning them with the national policies of the government and the mandates of the departments, statutory bodies, and state corporations affiliated with the Ministry.
2. Deliver public services within the Ministry's purview in an efficient and citizen-centric manner.
3. Reform processes and procedures using modern management practices and technology to ensure the Ministry’s objectives are achieved while eliminating waste and corruption.
4. Implement rural infrastructure development projects.
5. Execute social safety net programmes.
6. Identify the needs of individuals with special requirements and take measures to ensure these needs are met effectively.
7. Review, restructure, and introduce appropriate reforms to public assistance programmes.
8. Provide support to patients suffering from tuberculosis, kidney diseases, leprosy, cancer, and thalassemia, as well as their dependents.
9. Offer family counseling services.
10. Undertake activities related to internationally recognized conventions concerning persons with special needs.
11. Coordinate with relevant institutions to implement programmes that provide vocational training and create employment opportunities for persons with special needs.
12. Make necessary policy changes and implement facilities and programmes to enable persons with special needs to work alongside the general public.
13. Establish and implement social insurance schemes for persons with special needs.
14. Take necessary steps to care for the elderly, increase their paRTI & IAUcipation in social development activities, and safeguard the rights of senior citizens.