Ambassador Savage visits EU-funded projects

Bernard Savage, Ambassador/Head of Delegation to the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, visited the European Union funded projects in Ampara, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa earlier this month.

Ambassador Savage, who will be completing his term as Ambassador to EU Delegation in Sri Lanka at the end of August this year, took this opportunity to observe and review the positive contributions made by the European Union to the people of Sri Lanka over the past few years.

The nature of the projects visited indicated the EU’s shift from humanitarian aid and rehabilitation to sustainability in keeping with national priorities. The EU, as one of Sri Lanka’s long standing partners has allocated Rs. 94 billion in development and humanitarian assistance, all in the form of grants except Rs. 25.5 billion from the European Investment Bank (EIB) loans.

The projects visited mainly focused on sectors such as agriculture, livelihoods, environment, education, health, housing, etc. Ambassador Savage held several discussions with local government officials, project partners, beneficiaries and communities. Ambassador Savage was accompanied by several members from the EU office as well as media personnel.

Given are some of the highlights from the visit:

EU support to housing: The EU will fund the construction of 4,000 houses. This project which is partnered with UN-Habitat is the fourth housing construction program supported by the EU since 2006. By 2015, the EU will have financially assisted to rebuild permanent houses for about 20,000 families in north and east Sri Lanka.

EU support to livelihoods: The renovated multipurpose building and rehabilitated irrigation channel will serve over 300 resettled families in Weligahakandiya village and neighbouring villages to improve their standard of living. The European Union has granted Rs. 9 million to ZOA for the rehabilitation of these facilities.

Speaking at the inauguration Ambassador Savage said: “The EU is pleased to note that this livelihood and community infrastructure project will benefit over 4,700 households to increase their productivity and income in the long term.”

Over 12,000 farmers in Mandapathaddi, Batticaloa will benefit in their day-to-day activities with the opening of these agricultural infrastructures. During the conflict, many paddy stores in this area were destroyed. Due to the lack of storage facilities paddy farmers were compelled to sell their products as soon as they were harvested. This storage facility will assist farmers to store paddy for longer periods and thereby enable them to get a better price for their produce.

The aim of this project implemented by OXFAM is to provide access to infrastructure, improvement of livelihoods, increase access to water and sanitation facilities, and improve social protection among communities in the North and East Provinces.  

The EU funded a total of 19 food processing centres in the Vavuniya and Polonnaruwa Districts. These hubs fill an important gap in the market chain which benefit over 2,000 conflict affected families who lack access to central market places and product processing centres. These centres will add value and increase incomes for families, notably through solar drying, bottling and packaging of agricultural products.

Environmental Remediation Program: The Environmental Remediation Program (ERP) was set up in the aftermath of the tsunami with an overall purpose to restore the integrity of natural resources and rebuild stronger systems to address solid waste, water waste challenges and environmental degradation in the Ampara District.  

The project, which aims to contribute to cleaner environment and improve the health and safety of the population of the Ampara District, has 12 functional Solid Waste Management Units managed by local authorities, landfills, composting facilities, recycling centres, etc.

The ERP has also improved urban storm water drainage in Kalmunai and carried out several tree planning campaigns and environmental educational programmes. This flagship project has benefitted over 80,000 households in the Ampara District.

The project has achieved the Green Award 2012 of the Central Environment Authority; Green Job Award 2011 of the Ministry of Environment; Ampara local authorities recognised ‘Best Practice in Solid Waste Management’ in the province since 2010.