(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –The Government of Japan on Friday decided to extend additional Emergency Grant Aid of USD 3.5 million for Sri Lanka in response to the challenging economic and humanitarian situation, the Embassy of Japan in Colombo said.
This is the second round of assistance under the Emergency Grant Scheme to Sri Lanka. In the most recent months of August and September alone, Japan has provided a total of approximately $13.8 Million worth major grant assistance to Sri Lanka.
This Emergency Grant Aid will enable to implement humanitarian assistance activities delivering food worth USD 2 million through the World Food Programme (WFP), food, nutrition, health, sanitation worth USD 1 million through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and nutrition worth USD 0.5 million through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the people of Sri Lanka.
With the implementation of earlier assistance worth USD 3 million announced on May 20, this builds Japanese Government’s support in response to the current situation up to USD 6.5 million in total. Japan hopes that this assistance will contribute to overcoming the hardship faced by the people of Sri Lanka, with whom Japan has long-standing friendly relations.
“Japan has always been supporting Sri Lanka as a true friend since its establishment of diplomatic relations 70 years ago when His Excellency J.R. Jayewardene made a historic sublime speech at the San Francisco Peace Conference on September 6, 1951. Reflecting on this friendly relationship, Japan has continued to support sustainable development in Sri Lanka under three priority areas of (1) Promoting quality growth, (2) Development cooperation for inclusive growth, and (3) Mitigating vulnerability, amounting to more than 140 billion JPY,” the Embassy said.
According to the Embassy, in 2022, as of September 16, Japan has so far provided a total of approximately 36.5 Million USD for Grant Assistance, particularly under priority areas (2) and (3).
“Through these supports, Japan has provided both immediate and mid- and long-term assistances, addressing the urgent needs while enhancing capacity and potentiality of the people of Sri Lanka for further growth,” the Embassy said.
“We will continue our support for Sri Lanka’s sustainable development, as well as deepen our bilateral relations through the visit of Honorable Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, to Japan scheduled later this month. The Embassy of Japan hopes to continue to further strengthen the bond between the people of Sri Lanka.”
