The European Union (EU) has stepped into support Sri Lanka’s justice sector, help improve food safety, and strengthen efforts to mitigate climate change.
The EU has announced the signing of three grants worth EUR 35.75 million (Rs. 8.26 billion) towards this end.
The grant agreements were signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka by Secretary to the Treasury S.R. Attygalle and were presented by the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka. Denis Chaibi, EU delegations Embassy in Colombo revealed in a media release.
Appreciating the continued close collaboration and the very cordial partnership and support for Sri Lanka extended by the EU, the Secretary to the Treasury S.R. Attygalle said that these grants will reinforce the Government’s efforts to strengthen the justice sector, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Sri Lanka and to improve food safety and quality targeting exports.
“These three grants are a tangible pledge of support by the European Union to Sri Lanka targeting three priority areas,” said Ambassador Chaibi.
“Ambassador Chaibi noted that EU support to improving food safety will benefit producers and consumers alike, while boosting the potential export of organic agricultural products to the EU and other markets.
He added that the EU and Sri Lanka will continue to work together to tackle the common challenges of climate change, a major EU priority.
The EUR 18 million (Rs. 4.16 billion) Justice Sector Support programme, designed in close consultation with the relevant actors and institutions, will focus on providing capacity development and technical assistance.
The overarching goal is to increase efficiency and effectiveness, reduce caseloads in the courts, and in particular to improve access to justice. The programme will be mainly implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.
EUR 10 million (approx. Rs. 2.31 billion) will help improve food safety, quality, and promote organic agriculture.
The EUR 7.75 million (Rs. 1.79 billion) Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Industrial Sector project, implemented, to support a shift towards a competitive, resource efficient, low carbon, and climate resilient industrial sector in Sri Lanka.
(LIN)