Sri Lanka gets AUD 31mn grant assistance to strengthen governance

Finance and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga and Australian High Commissioner Bryce Hutchesson exchanging the agreement 

Australia and Sri Lanka have signed a subsidiary arrangement for grant assistance to work together on strengthening governance in Sri Lanka, through a four-year programme valued at up to AUD31 million (Rs.3,850 million). 

The Finance and Mass Media Ministry said the ‘Governance for Growth’ programme aims to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to increase economic growth and spread the benefits of that growth to reduce poverty and inequality in the country. 

The programme will support activities that improve the policy formation and delivery capabilities of government at national, provincial and local levels to bring about inclusive economic growth.

Some of the activities under the programme are a partnership with the World Bank to support the Sri Lankan government’s implementation of national economic reforms, and work with The Asia Foundation to strengthen public sector service delivery at the sub-national level, including for women and people with disabilities.

The programme will also provide opportunities for research collaboration and building of institutional linkages to support the quality of Sri Lanka’s economic decision-making and public service delivery, for example, by funding a national ‘State of the Cities’ report to support urban planning and development decision-making.

The Finance and Mass Media Ministry will act as the Sri Lankan counterpart of the Governance for Growth programme overall, with a key role in contributing to strategic management of the programme. 

Australian High Commissioner Bryce Hutchesson said, “Australia places great importance on these types of arrangements, which sit under our broader development cooperation MOU, as a means of ensuring our programmes are aligned fully with Sri Lanka’s national objectives and reflect a shared vision for development.”