Japanese aid of JPY 500 million for upgrading phytosanitary certification in Sri Lanka for facilitating exports of perishable plant commodities

Based on the request of Sri Lankan government, Japan has agreed to provide Japanese Yen 500 million (approximately Rs. 880 million) grant under the Japanese non-project grant aid scheme for the provision of equipment to strengthen the diagnostic techniques and phytosanitary inspection services to facilitatation of export certification in the country.

The National Plant Quarantine Services facilitate the international movement of healthy plants and plant products for the development of national agriculture and related industries. 

It expects to upgrade the phytosanitary certification facility by fulfilling the requirements for precise pest diagnosis at the country’s entry and exit points to strengthen the export certification as well as for inspection of imports, a statement from Treasury said.

The Exchange of Notes pertaining to the above grant were signed by S. R. Attygalle, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Mizukoshi Hideaki, Japanese Ambassador today at the Ministry of Finance.