EU boosts aid to Sri Lanka

17 June 2010 08:28 am Views - 6270

The Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives is pleased to announce the allocation of an indicative budget of EUR 60 million (LKR 8.4 billion) in grants, as the second part of the EU Country Strategy for Sri Lanka spanning the 2007-2013 period, for new operations to be committed in the period 2011-2013.

With the adoption on 17 June 2010 of the Indicative Programme 2011-2013 for Sri Lanka, the EU focuses on the needs of vulnerable communities, in particular those affected by the conflict which came to an end in 2009, and supports positive developments towards peace, consolidation and reconciliation.

The programme will mainly focus on medium-term assistance in the North and East of the country. Activities will follow onto the projects carried out under the first Indicative Programme 2007-2010 and complement and pursue the emergency relief provided by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

During the 2007-2010 period, the EU’s project work included socio-economic measures to support conflict-affected returnees and host communities in Sri Lanka. Ongoing or foreseen activities aim mainly at improving livelihood opportunities and rehabilitation. Together with complementary EU funds for housing and food security, the overall portfolio of projects decided in 2008 and designated as the "EU-Assistance to Conflict Affected People" (EU-ACAP) amounts to EUR 53.2 million.