The third phase of the “Stand Together for the Country” development program began yesterday, and will be carried out till 11 May, covering the Ampara District, the Government Information Department said yesterday. Under the program, 5000 development projects benefiting people in 20 Divisional Secretariats will be held. Ampara District Secretary D. M. L. Bandaranayake said many programs will be implemented from 6 to 11 May, covering 20 Divisional Secretariats in Ampara District, under the third phase of the national development program “Stand Together for the Country”, implemented under the guidance of the Presidential Secretariat. Ampara District, as one of the largest districts in the country, comprises more than 600,000 population, and contributes to a quarter of the total rice supply of the country.