The Government has allocated Rs. 5,400 million for livelihood development activities of low income families in Ampara district under the Samurdhi Development Programme. Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena disclosed this at an awareness workshop attended by Samurdhi Managers, Development Officers and Samurdhi Society Chairmen in Ampara, Uhana and Damana Divisional Secretariat Divisions at the Ampara Town Hall yesterday. Abeygunawardena said on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's directions, a gamut of Samurdhi Development Programmes were being conducted by his Ministry to uplift the living conditions of underprivileged masses in this country. Pre-eminent among those programmes were development of rural infrastructure, Mathata Thitha (full stop to liquor and drugs) and uplift of education facilities. Priority had been given to ensure people a decent living by strengthening the family economy. Earlier, the Government was unable to activate these programmes in the Eastern Region because it was under the clutches of terrorists. Now under the guidance and leadership of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Security Forces personnel had liberated the East completely from terrorists and enabled its people to enjoy political and democratic rights. The President believed that for people to enjoy these rights to the optimum their family economy had to be strengthened. That was why the Government had allocated Rs. 5,400 million for 5,400 livelihood development projects for low income families in the Ampara District at the rate of Rs. 1 million for each project, he said.