EU support for good governance and reconciliation

Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Tung-Lai Margue, at the agreement signing on Wednesday 

The European Union (EU) is providing € 40 million to Sri Lanka to co-finance the ‘Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation and Inclusive Democratic Engagement’ (STRIDE) project. 

Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga signed the financing agreement on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government on Wednesday. 

Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Tung-Lai Margue, said: “Good governance and the participation of communities are important to ensure that a country’s growth reaches everyone. Local Government structures must be responsive to people’s needs. These are key elements in ensuring effective governance on the ground which helps address causes of conflict. With STRIDE, the EU contributes to long-term peace, security and development in Sri Lanka.”  

The EU-funded STRIDE project is a collaboration with the World Bank-funded Local Government Development project. It will be implemented in the Northern, Eastern, North Central and Uva Provinces. 

The EU and the World Bank (WB) will introduce a small grants scheme to local authorities to strengthen their capacities in planning and service delivery with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

STRIDE will also strengthen community and special mediation boards to improve citizens’ experience of and access to justice services.

The activities will be implemented by the WB, UNDP and the British Council, together with the Asia Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Council and Local Government as well as the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms.  The program is expected to run for four years and will help an estimated one million Sri Lankans under 134 Local Government authorities in the four provinces.