10/08/2011

Rupees 220 million Japanese Grant assistance for improving community-based water supply and Sanitation facilities in Jaffna & Kilinochchi Districts

The Government has already commenced a water supply and sanitation project with ADB financing with the view to improve water supply and sanitation facilities of the people in Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts in line with the Government’s target of providing safe drinking water for all citizens. Subsequently, the Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction has also agreed to provide a Grant Assistance of US$ 2 million (approximately SLR 220 mn) to improve water supply and sanitation facilities of the people in 23 rural villages in Delft, Mathagal-East, Shanthai, and Vaddakachchi -East & Central, which are not covered under the above project. The Government of Sri Lanka contribution for the project is SLR 28.7 million (US$ 0.26 million) while the in-kind community contribution will be SLR 17.3 million (US$ 0.18 million). This grant will be administered by the ADB.

 It is expected to achieve the following benefits by completion of this Project and all the activities of the project are scheduled to be completed by 30^th June 2014.

1. To provide safe drinking water for 1,900 poor rural households.

2. To provide new low-cost household sanitation systems with septic tank for 550 poor rural households

3. 15 demonstration rainwater-harvesting tanks will be built at public institutions in the project area

4. To be involved 40 households in Delft area in pilot solar distillation scheme

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) and; Delft, Valikamam South West and, Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabhas are to serve as the project implementing Agencies under the supervision of the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage.

Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Mr. P B Jayasundara, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Country Director - the ADB, Ms. Rita O’Sullivan on behalf of the Asian Development Bank have signed the Grant Agreement.

Ministry of Finance & Planning, Colombo
29th June 2011.

29/06/2011

Japan Provides Human Resources Development Scholarships for the Public Sector

The Government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant of Japanese Yen 208 million (approximately Rs. 287 million) for implementation of the second phase of Human Resources Development Scholarship Programme. The objective of this programme is to support human resources development by providing opportunities for the Government officials to undergo Masters Degree Programmes at higher educational institutions in Japan. The programme will also assist to provide higher contribution from the public officers for the development of social and economic sectors of the country and to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Under this scholarship programme, 15 long term scholarships will be provided to Sri Lanka in each year from 2011 - 2014, to pursue Post Graduate Studies in Japanese Universities in the fields of Public Policy and Public Finance, Public Administration, Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation, and Macro and Development Economics. The candidates will be selected from the relevant line Ministries, Departments and Agencies based on a competitive selection process. As a first phase, the Government of Japan has granted Japanese Yen 229 million (approximately Rs. 279 million) to cover the education and living cost of 15 scholars who had qualified in 2010 and currently studying at the Japanese universities under this programme. The Government of Japan is the main contributor of the human resources development in the public sector in Sri Lanka and, Japan has provided annually around 160 short and long term foreign training programmes to Sri Lanka through the facilitation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

An Exchange of Notes between the two Governments and a Grant Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the JICA for the implementation of the Human Resources Development Scholarship Programme were signed today at the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Relevant documents were signed by Mr. P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Kunio Takahashi Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka on behalf of the Government of Japan and Mr. Akira Shimura, Chief Representative of JICA on behalf of the JICA.

Ministry of Finance & Planning, Colombo
29th June 2011.

20/06/2011

US$ 120 million (Rs. 13,000 million) investment for the Development of Sustainable Power Sector 

 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide financial assistance of US$ 120 million for the implementation of Sustainable Power Sector Support Project in Sri Lanka in line with the government’s target of providing electricity to all households by end of 2012. The project will contribute to a reliable, adequate and affordable power supply for balanced and sustainable economic growth in Sri Lanka and increase electricity connections in rural areas, specifically in the Eastern, North Central, Southern and Uva Provinces.

The total investment cost of the project is US$ 162.03 million (Rs 17,553 million) of which US$ 42.03 million (Rs 4,553 million) will be provided by the government of Sri Lanka. The total loan from the ADB includes a loan of US$ 10 million (Rs 1,083 million) from the Asian Development Fund (ADF) and a loan of US$ 110 million (Rs 11,917 million) from Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR).

It is expected to carry out the following works under this project;

(a)    Construction of substations at Galle, Pollonnaruwa, Vavunathivu and  Monaragala

(b)   Construction of transmission lines from Ambalangoda to Galle, Mahiyangana to Vavunativu (via Ampara), Monaragala to Madagama and stringing of second circuit of existing transmission line from Kotmale to Anuradhapura.

(c)    Improvement of distribution system covering 486 rural electrification schemes to electrify about 12,190 households in 113 remote villages in Ampara district.

(d)   Strengthening distribution system in Haldummulla, Diyatalawa and Koslanda areas in Uva province. 

(e)    Facilitation of private developers and plantation estates to rehabilitate and connect their micro hydro plants to the main grid on net metering basis. 

(f)    Installation of capacitor banks for transmission loss reduction at Aniyakanda, Ambalangoda and Katunayake substations

(g)   Preparation of a detailed engineering design of 26.5 MW hydro power station at Moragolla in the Kandy district

Financing of rehabilitation of the micro hydro power plants will be carried out through a credit line. The credit line would be open to estate plantation companies and private sector developers who wish to connect their micro hydro power plants to main grid on the basis of a net metering agreement.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA), under the Ministry of Power and Energy will be the project implementing agencies. The project is scheduled to be completed by 30^th April 2014. 

In this connection, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and on behalf of ADB, Country Director of ADB, signed two Loan Agreements today at the Ministry of Finance and Planning

Ministry of Finance & Planning, Colombo
2oth June 2011.

31/03/2011

Rs. 468 million grant from Japan for the Food Security Project for Underprivileged Farmers

The Government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant of Japanese Yen 360 million (Approximately Rs 468 million) under its food production grant aid programme to purchase agricultural machineries and equipment from Japan for use of underprivileged farmers. The grant is administrated by Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The agricultural machineries and equipment, purchase under this grant will be made available to the farmers through Agrarian Service Centres of the Department of Agrarian Development, Agrarian Service Centres and Government Seed Farms through the Department of Agriculture. This will facilitate improving the quality of agricultural products of the targeted farmers. 

Half of the value of agricultural machineries and equipment imported under this grant, will be deposited in a special account at the Central Bank which will be utilized for financing of projects to enhance economic and social development including the increase of food production. 

The signing of Exchange of Notes pertaining to the above Grant took place today, at the Ministry of Finance and Planning. His Excellency Kunio Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka signed the Exchange of Notes on behalf of the Government of Japan while P B Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning singed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. A Grant Agreement was also signed between Government of Sri Lanka and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) P B Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning and Akira Shimura, Senior Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and JICA respectively. 

Ministry of Finance & Planning, Colombo
08th February  2011.

08/02/2011

The Jaffna and Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project is ready to commence with the Asian Development  Bank (ADB) assistance of Rs. 9810 million (US$ 90 million)

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide financial assistance approximately Rs.10 billion (US$ 90 million) for the implementation of Jaffna and Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation project in line with the Government’s target of providing safe drinking water for all citizens.

The main objectives of the project are to improve water supply services in Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts, provide sanitation infrastructure for residents living in the Jaffna Municipal Council area and strengthen water resources management program in Jaffna Peninsula. It is expected to supply 60,000 (300,000 persons) new water connections in Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts and connect 20,000 households (80,000 persons) in Jaffna Municipal council area to the sewer network. The project is scheduled to be completed by 14^th February 2017.

The total investment cost of the project is Rs. 17,880 mn (US$ 164.o4 million) of which the contribution of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) includes a loan of Rs.7,630 mn (SDR; Special Drawing Rights 44,286,000 - approximately US$ 70 million) from the Asian Development Fund (ADF) and a loan of Rs.2,180 million (US$ 20 million) from Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR). The Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) of France has agreed to provide a loan of Rs. 5,232 million (Euro 35 million or US$ 48 million) to part finance the water supply sub-component of the project and associated consulting services for design and supervision. In addition, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has agreed to provide a loan of Rs. 2,180 million (US$ 20 million) for the downstream development of the Iranamadu Tank from which water is drawn for the water supply scheme in order to ensure that adequate quantity of water is provided to the farmers in the downstream for irrigation. Two separate financing agreements will be signed with the AFD and IFAD for this purpose. The Government contribution to the project will be Rs. 2,838 million (US$ 26.04 million).

The proceeds of the ADB and AFD loans will be used for the following activities;

1.    Rehabilitation and improvement of headworks at the lranamadu Tank, construction of a new water intake, water treatment plant and laying the water transmission mains in order to provide new distribution systems for Jaffna Municipality, Chavakachcheri Urban Council and selected Pradeshiya Sabhas of Jaffna and Kilinochchi and also providing water connections to household in poor areas.

2.  Provision of a Sewerage collection system and equipment for Jaffna Municipal Council area including a sewerage treatment plant and treated effluent outfall by aiming to introduce low cost sanitation programmes for selected communities.

3.  Developing groundwater monitoring system in the project area while providing Support to municipalities, urban councils, and Pradeshiya Sabhas in the preparation of their by-laws. It is also expected to construct a new regional office of NWSDB in Jaffna.

The National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) under the supervision of the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage and the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) through Provincial Irrigation Department under the supervision of the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils will implement the project.

Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Country Director - the ADB, on behalf of the Asian Development Bank have signed the Loan Agreement. Further, Two Project Agreements have signed between ADB & NWSDB and ADB & NPC for the implementation of the project.

Ministry of Finance & Planning, Colombo
08th February  2011.

31/01/2011

Grant of US$ 2.7 million for Improvement of Nutrition Level of the Displaced People in the Northern Province

The World Bank  has agreed to provide a grant of US$ 2.7 million for improvement of Nutrition level of the displaced people in the Northern Province. The funds for this purpose have been granted by the Government of Japan under the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) where the World Bank receives periodic contributions. 

The objective of the project is to reduce the malnutrition rates among the displaced population in the Northern Province. The proceeds of the grant will be utilized for supply of emergency food rations, community mobilization, community based nutrition interventions and supervision and monitoring of the project. Around 7,100 undernourished pregnant and lactating mothers and 12,600 underweight children below five years will be directly benefited through this project.

The project will be implemented by Northern Province Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine under the guidance and technical support of the Ministry of Health.

The signing of Grant Agreement for the project took place on 31^st January 2011, at the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The agreement was signed by Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning and Ms. Diarietou Gaye, Country Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives of the World Bank, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank respectively. Minister, Mr. Kaoru Shimazaki and Second Secretary, Ms. Kayo Imamura from the Embassy of Japan, also participated at this occasion.

Ministry of Finance & Planning, Colombo
31st  January 2011.