European Commission announces Euro 38 mn for development in Sri Lanka

  Mar 16, 2016 (LBO) - The European Commission co-signed two new support programmes worth 38 million Euros in the field of rural development and trade with Sri Lanka, a EU statement said. “Now our focus is on providing long-term support towards poverty reduction and local economic development,” Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development who arrived for a three day visit to the country on Tuesday said. “We have a new opportunity to support governance and reconciliation efforts and help address the root causes of the conflict in Sri Lanka." According to the EU 30 million Euros will be spent on integrated rural development in the most vulnerable districts of the central and uva Provinces. “The programme aims to improve livelihoods and household incomes, as well as access to drinking water and healthcare services for the most vulnerable of the population in Sri Lanka,” the statement said. Another 8 million Euro will go towards trade related assistance to help Sri Lanka reap the benefits of further integration into the global and regional trading system. “It will help the country develop relevant policies, and improve their market access, competitiveness and compliance with international standards.”