At the second Executive Board Meeting of the World Food Programme (WFP), held on 15th of November, at WFP Headquarters in Rome, Italy, the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Sri Lanka for the period of 2018–2022, which reflects WFP’s continued strong collaboration addressing Sri Lanka’s food security and nutritional issues, was approved.
The WFP Sri Lanka’s CSP has focused on four main related areas to be improved, which include people in conflict affected areas, meals for under age school children, improved nutrition for adolescent girls of reproductive age and assistance to vulnerable communities and small farmers. The total amount under this CSP approved for the 04 year period from 2018 to 2022 is USD 46.8 million.
In the meeting, WFP’s continued contributions for the last 50 years in Sri Lanka,including the emergency assistance extended on devastated natural disasters, including Tsunami 2004 to various recovery phases towards rebuilding food and nutrition security through many projects, was appreciated. The visit of the former WFP Executive Director to Sri Lanka in February this year was also appreciated together with the recent assistance extended by WFP for Sri Lanka as flood and drought relief.
Addressing the Executive Board, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Mr. Shantha Bandara stated that following the conflict in Sri Lanka which ended in 2009, the country’s economy has grown moderately reflecting the peace dividend and a determined policy thrust towards reconstruction and reconciliation. He also affirmed Sri Lanka's readiness in the implementation of approved strategic plans to achieve targets for ‘Zero Hunger’ and “Blue and Green Era”, through policy documents such as the Vision 2025 and Public Investment Programme of 2017-2020 to achieve the 2030 SDG Agenda. In this regard, the enactment of the Sustainable Development Act of Sri Lanka and the institutional frameworks such as High Level National Nutrition Council and the National Steering Committee on Nutrition were also highlighted.
Acting Secretary of the Ministry of National Policies and the Economic Affairs was joined by H.E Mr. Daya Pelpola, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the WFP in Rome and Embassy officials.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Rome
15th November 2017
