Sri Lanka and the World Bank signed a $70 million loan agreement to improve the quality of life of around one million people living in Northern, North Central, Eastern and Uva Provinces.
The new local development project will put local communities at the center of planning and delivery of essential services such as roads, healthcare and sanitation through closer collaboration with local government authorities.
Sri Lanka has performed well in reducing poverty over the years, with the national poverty rate falling to 4.1 percent in 2016. However, pockets of poverty prevail, especially in areas in the North and East with weak community institutions, gender vulnerabilities, especially among female-headed households, trauma symptoms and risk behavior of youth and affected populations.
“The project supports the delivery of services to citizens while ensuring that the activities implemented match their needs,” said Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.“We are happy to partner with the Government to deliver a project that will build systems to be responsive to the needs of the local population, and particularly the most vulnerable groups.”
This project will also pilot the provision of infrastructure services that will promote local economic activities and livelihoods – including roads and drains, markets, water supply, minor irrigation, IT connectivity, and rural electrification.
Original source: World Bank
Published on 14 May 2019
