Justice receives mega EU boost, total grants amounts to Rs 8.26 bn

….UNDP and UNICEF to play significant role

Sri Lanka has received Eur 18 mn (Rs 4.16 bn) to strengthen the justice sector. The EU mission, in a statement issued yesterday (13) said that the Justice Sector Support programme, designed in close consultation with the relevant actors and institutions, would focus on providing capacity development and technical assistance.

“The overarching goal is to increase efficiency and effectiveness, reduce caseloads in the courts, and in particular to improve access to justice. The programme will be mainly implemented by UNDP and UNICEF,” the EU said.

The Justice sector project is among three grants worth EUR 35.75 million (LKR 8.26 billion) meant to support Sri Lanka’s justice sector, help improve food safety, and strengthen efforts to mitigate climate change. The grants were signed yesterday on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka by Secretary to the Treasury S.R. Attygalle and were presented by the Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka Denis Chaibi.

Appreciating the continued close collaboration and the very cordial partnership and support for Sri Lanka extended by the EU, the Secretary to the Treasury said that those grants would reinforce the Government’s efforts to strengthen the justice sector, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Sri Lanka and to improve food safety and quality targeting exports.  

“These three grants are a tangible pledge of support by the European Union to Sri Lanka targeting three priority areas,” said Ambassador Chaibi. “The coronavirus pandemic has underscored the importance of strengthening a country’s justice system to ensure citizens are able to access justice in a timely, effective, and fair manner”.

Ambassador Chaibi also noted that EU support to improving food safety will benefit producers and consumers alike, while boosting the potential export of organic agricultural products to the EU and other markets. He added that the EU and Sri Lanka would continue to work together to tackle the common challenges of climate change, a major EU priority.

EUR 10 million (approx. LKR 2.31 billion) will help improve food safety, quality, and promote organic agriculture. The components, to be implemented by FAO and UNIDO, will strengthen the competitiveness of the agriculture sector through the adoption of good agricultural and hygienic practices, an updated risk-based food control system, and increased consumer awareness. Implementing partner GIZ (Germany) will also support the local organic market, including small and medium-sized businesses to produce at higher volumes and better quality. The standards required to access major EU markets will be promoted through the National Organic Control Union and the Export Development Board. 

The EUR 7.75 million (LKR 1.79 billion) Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Industrial Sector project, implemented by UNIDO, is in response to a request by the Ministries of Environment, Power, and Industry, to support a shift towards a competitive, resource efficient, low carbon, and climate resilient industrial sector in Sri Lanka. It will help large, medium, and small industries to increase their environmental compliance and reduce emissions, and enable the Government to achieve its international commitments pledged during the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change.