European Union will provide Sri Lanka an Rs.9 billion (EUR 60 million) grant under its support to the District Development programme from 2012 to 2017, the Economic Development Ministry said

The announcement was made by EU Delegation Head Bernard Savage during a meeting with Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday in Colombo.

Under this programme, the projects identified by the Sri Lankan government as priority projects will be implemented by United Nations agencies — UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, FAO, ILO and IFC, the ministry said.

Speaking at the event UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Representative Subaine Nandy said that UN and its agencies would always cooperate with overall development strategies of the government and extend assistance in accordance with the requirements of the government. Experience gained and lessons learnt from the implementation of the projects can be used to design the next projects, he said.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)