UNDP to enhance assistance to Sri Lanka for food and livelihood security and renewable energy projects.

Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Azusa Kubota called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple trees on 23.03.2023.

She exchanged her views with the Prime Minister on collaboration under the implementation of its new Country Programme Document (CPD) 2023-2027 with three priority areas: social inclusion and macroeconomic stability; Green Development and Inclusive governance and justice, peace and social cohesion.

She said that the UNDP, with the support from the Government of Japan would commence two projects in Sri Lanka on Enhanced food and Livelihood Security and Green Technologies and Renewable Energy.

The Prime Minister expressed his thankfulness for the assistance given by the UNDP in community development programmes in Sri Lanka. He told the UNDP Resident Representative collaboration in Thunkama community water project in Embilipitiya was of extreme use to villagers in the area as it is scheduled to provide the villagers with drinking water and water for agricultural purposes.

The Prime Minister pointed out that 26,000 houses in different parts of the island have been damaged due to landslides over the years. Around 3,000 houses have already been renovated by the Ministry of Disaster Management but the rest of 23,000 households need shelter. He requested Ms. Azusa Kubota to consider UNDP assistance in developing projects to rehabilitate the soil in landslide-hit areas of the country and also assist the housing programmes.

Prime Minister Gunawardena urged the United Nations Development Programme to increase assistance to development of small and medium enterprises of rural community based organizations.

Resident Representative Ms. Kubota said she would explore the possibility of assisting Sri Lanka in the above project under the Green Cultural Fund which is intended to carry out two large scale projects in Sri Lanka.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake and UNDP Team Leader Policy and Engagement, Fadhil Bakeer Marker also were present on this occasion.