The European Union provides LKR 8.26 billion in grants to Sri Lanka

Support to the justice sector, food safety, and climate change mitigation

COLOMBO, xx January 2021– The European Union (EU) announced the signing of three grants worth EUR 35.75 million (LKR 8.26 billion) which will support Sri Lanka’s justice sector, help improve food safety, and strengthen efforts to mitigate climate change. The grants were signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka by Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. S.R. Attygalle and were presented by the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka H.E. Denis Chaibi.

Appreciating the continued close collaboration and the very cordial partnership and support for SriLanka extended by the EU, the Secretary to the Treasury said that these grants will reinforce theGovernment’s efforts to strengthen the justice sector, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in SriLanka 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 targetingthree priority areas,” said Ambassador Chaibi. “The coronavirus pandemic has underscored theimportance of strengthening a country’s justice system to ensure citizens are able to access justice ina timely, effective, and fair manner”. Ambassador Chaibi noted that EU support to improving foodsafety will benefit producers and consumers alike, while boosting the potential export of organicagricultural products to the EU and other markets. He added that the EU and Sri Lanka will continueto work together to tackle the common challenges of climate change, a major EU priority.

The EUR 18 million (LKR 4.16 billion) Justice Sector Support programme, designed in closeconsultation with the relevant actors and institutions, will focus on providing capacity developmentand technical assistance. The overarching goal is to increase efficiency and effectiveness, reducecaseloads in the courts, and in particular to improve access to justice. The programme will be mainlyimplemented by UNDP and UNICEF.

EUR 10 million (approx. LKR 2.31 billion) will help improve food safety, quality, and promoteorganic agriculture. The components, to be implemented by FAO and UNIDO, will strengthen thecompetitiveness of the agriculture sector through the adoption of good agricultural and hygienicpractices, an updated risk-based food control system, and increased consumer awareness.Implementing partner GIZ (Germany) will also support the local organic market, including small andmedium-sized businesses to produce at higher volumes and better quality. The standards required toaccess major EU markets will be promoted through the National Organic Control Union and theExport Development Board.

The EUR 7.75 million (LKR 1.79 billion) Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the IndustrialSector project, implemented by UNIDO, is in response to a request by the Ministries ofEnvironment, Power, and Industry, to support a shift towards a competitive, resource efficient, lowcarbon, and climate resilient industrial sector in Sri Lanka. It will help large, medium, and smallindustries to increase their environmental compliance and reduce emissions, and enable theGovernment to achieve its international commitments pledged during the Paris Agreement tomitigate climate change.