The "Gam Pubuduwa" (Village Re-awakening) (Sri Lanka) project launched by the Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Ministry under its Suwahas Jana Pubuduwa development program to upgrade the infrastructure facilities of 13,223 rural villages during this year has already commenced 12,447 infrastructure development projects in 12,447 selected villages countrywide, Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said. The Minister said the Gam pubuduwa programme was launched by the Ministry as an integral part of the "Sanwardhana Sangramaya" (Development Drive) initiated by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. This programme was ceremonially launched by the President at Anuradhapura on October 22.