Rs. 9 b grant for Sri Lanka from EU

The European Union yesterday announced it would provide Sri Lanka a grant amounting to approximately Rs. 9 billion (EUR 60) million under the European Union support to the District Development program spanning over 2012-2017.

The latest support was disclosed by Head of the Delegation of the EU in Sri Lanka Bernard Savage when he met with Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa together with Subaine Nandy, United Nation Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Sri Lanka.

The Ministry in a statement said under this program, the projects identified by the Sri Lankan Government as priority projects will be implemented by agencies of the United Nation.

[caption id="attachment_106674" align="alignright" width="420" caption="Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa in talks with ead of the Delegation of the EU in Sri Lanka Bernard Savage and Subaine Nandy, United Nation Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Sri Lanka."][/caption]

The agencies are namely UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, FAO, ILO and IFC of the World Bank Group with European Union financial assistance.

The European Union envisages supporting two major components identified in line with the

National Development Program of Sri Lanka, notably poverty reduction and provision of basic infrastructure and services for vulnerable populations.

Minister Rajapaksa said at the discussion that the Sri Lankan Government highly appreciated the United Nations and its agencies for the longstanding support extended to Sri Lanka for its humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts.

The European Union also extended its support for Sri Lanka’s Humanitarian Development programs at various levels and the Minister thanked the European Union for the help it had extended to Sri Lanka.

Rajapaksa further said since most of the humanitarian development programs related to tsunami and post conflict resettlement had been completed or were near completion, the Government would allocate foreign funds on the basis of country’s overall economic strategy and national policy.

Nandy said the UN and its agencies would always cooperate with overall development strategies of the Government and extend their assistance in accordance with the requirements of the Government. Experience gained and lessons learned from the implementation of the projects can be used to design the next projects, he said.

Savage said the European Union was able to provide assistance for the Sri Lankan Government and people as indicated by the Government and European Union would extend its fullest cooperation for the development of Sri Lanka in the future as well.

The European Union will provide financial assistance to complete the ongoing projects started with European Union funds and it will provide financial assistance amounting to 60 million Euros for the new projects to be started, he said.

Prof. Sunanda Maddumabandara, Director General – Communication and Development, Monty Ranatunga, Director- Ministry of Economic Development, Saroja Sirisena, Ministry of Economic Development, Mapa Patirana, Director General – External Resources, T.M.J. Bandara, Deputy Director – National Planning Dept., and S.B. Divaathna, Secretary – Presidential Task Force also participated at the occasion.