Japan offers US$ 3.5 million as emergency aid to SL

The  Japanese Government has decided to extend additional Emergency Grant Aid of USD 3.5 million for Sri Lanka amidst adverse reports about the food security situation in the country.

The Emergency Grant Aid will allow implementing 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 Japan’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 and friendly relations, the Japanese Embassy said.

Japan said it has always been supporting Sri Lanka as a true and sincere friend since its establishment of diplomatic relations 70 years ago when former President J.R. Jayewardene made a historic and noble speech of at the San Francisco Peace Conference on September 6, 1951.

Based 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

‘In year 2022 itself, we have so far provided a total of approximately 35.7 Million USD for Grant Assistance (As of September), 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 own capacity and potentiality of the people of Sri Lanka for further growth,” the Embassy said.

The Embassy said Japan  will continue its support for Sri Lanka’s sustainable development, as well as deepen our bilateral relations through the visit of Preisdent Ranil Wickremesinghe,  to Japan scheduled later this month.