EU grant of Rs. 5.4bn for Uva and Central province rural development
The European Union (EU) has announced that LKR 5.4 billion was being promised for Uva and Central province rural development as part of its broader rural development programme in Sri Lanka.
“The assistance is aimed at reducing poverty in Uva and Central Provinces by improving both living conditions and food security,” the statement issued by EU stated.
In the Uva Province the money will be disbursed to the Monaragala and Badulla districts and in the Central Province to the Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts towards uplifting the livelihoods of the rural poor.
CARE, ACTED, Oxfam, Adventist Development and Relief Agency, and Stichting Solidaridad will be in charge of disbursing the funds throughout the two provinces.
The projects will focus on promoting economic growth in the rural and estate sectors and increasing communities’ involvement in the use of the resources in their districts by strengthening small businesses, increasing the involvement of women and young people in decisions about job creation, and building awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease.¹
According to the EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Ambassador, Tung-Lai Margue the EU intended to provide these rural poor with a perceptible and viable enhancement to their living standards by providing them with economic and environmental sources that could continue to be supported even without the continued injection of aid.
The EU’s 2020 initiatives for Sri Lanka are targeting on development of Integrated Rural Development, and Reconciliation and Democratic Governance.
OSL TAKE:
Development of rural economic infrastructure and other aspects will allow potential investor to explore the possibilities of commerce in these areas. Becoming a front-runner in operating from such locations will enable those businesses to position themselves in a strong place and dominate such heretofore untapped economic potentials.
¹ http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/eu-pledges-rs-5-4bn-for-rural-development-in-uva-and-central-provinces/
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/26092017/Z_5 |