|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Tsunami reconstruction : EU pledges Euro 100m European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero- Waldner will arrive in Colombo tomorrow as the European Commission plans to allocate a 350 million Euro post-tsunami reconstruction package to the region. Of the 350 million Euro package, Sri Lanka will receive 100 million Euro, of which 40 million will be allocated to the Matara-Batticaloa road project. "The Commissioner will underline the EU's strong commitment to Sri Lanka, both as a Co-Chair in the Tokyo Donor Conference and as well as a substantial trading partner and a donor," according to a media communique issued by the European Commission. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will meet President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama and Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. She will also meet the civil society representatives and the other parties to the peace process. "I am determined that our support will be swift, efficient and reflect our long-term partnership. Europe will not forget how Sri Lanka has suffered," the communique quoted the Commissioner as saying. The 100 million Euro reconstruction package is in addition to the 31 million Euro humanitarian assistance already delivered in the island. The communique said the European Commission hoped to issue the first instalment of its reconstruction package before this summer, funded through the Rapid Reaction Mechanism. This will include support to local people to get back their work, provision of detailed satellite imagery of the affected coastline which will help plan reconstruction projects and analysing risk. The larger second instalment will be issued later in this year. The Commissioner will also discuss with the Government about possible plans for this larger instalment. A large part of these funds will be channelled through the Reconstruction Trust Fund when it is established. The Commissioner is also expected to confirm that she is proposing to upgrade the Commission's representation in Colombo to a full EC Delegation. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
