WFP gives Sri Lanka food worth Rs. 4.5b

Saturday, 15 December 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has agreed to provide Sri Lanka food items worth Rs. 4.5 billion (US$ 34.7 million) during the next two years.

WFP Resident Director Mads Lofvall handed over the related document Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Ministry office yesterday. The financial assistance from 1 January 2013 to December 2014 is expected to cover maternal and child nutrition, food for those whose work involves risk, lunch for school children, benefitting a total of 325,000 per year.

This is being done under the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation(PRRO) jointly implemented by both Sri Lanka Government and the WFP since year 2002 for providing food assistance to vulnerable people affected by 30 years of armed conflict. Executive Director WFP Rome Ertharin Cousin has informed Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, that approval has been granted for the budget increase to PRRO Sri Lanka.

Resident Director Mads Lofvall commended the Sri Lanka Government for providing 10,000 metric tons of rice to Ethiopia through the WFP and assured all assistance to Sri Lanka.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa expressed appreciation for WFP assistance given to strengthen the Divineguma programme and develop Sri Lanka’s agriculture. The Minister said a survey on food security, nutrition poverty and related issues is already being done at Grama Seva level.