In Sri Lanka there is a need to address the challenges in the North and the East due to a long-lasting civil conflict. Norway is committed to help those, affected by the conflict, to restore their lives and rebuild their communities. Assistance to rehabilitation efforts will be focussing on livelihood activities, economic development and strengthening of local governmental structures.
Norway’s cooperation with Sri Lanka dates back to 1967 when Norway began funding development programmes. During the first years, activities were supported through Non-Governmental Organisations. In 1976, the Governments of Norway and Sri Lanka signed a bilateral agreement on development cooperation and support to projects proposed by the Government of Sri Lanka commenced in 1977. The bilateral development cooperation has been ongoing for more than 30 years and amounts to a total of (totally) 4.2 billion NOK (700 million USD) in grants. The annual country program support is about 200 million NOK (34 mill USD) including humanitarian assistance and long-term development cooperation.
Since 1998 the long-term cooperation has been concentrated on strengthening incentives for peace and reconciliation and support to economic development. Lately support to the environment and climate change has been added as one of our main focus areas.
Within the area economic development Norway has over the years supported a broad range of programs in collaboration with the Government, Non-Governmental Organisation, Multilaterals and Private Sector Associations. The focus has been to support employability and private sector development island wide, prioritising poor regions in order to have a stabilising effect. At present our support goes to: vocational training, chamber development, financial institutions providing easier access to credit, micro-credit programs, rural electrification and cleaner production mechanisms for industries.
The Norwegian funding for peace and reconciliation is channelled through a variety of Non-Government Organisations, Universities and Private Sector Organisations. The purpose of the assistance is to contribute towards a peaceful solution of the long-lasting civil conflict. The support is focussing on peaceful co-existence between ethnic groups and promoting sustainable peace and reconciliation through information, consciousness-raising and mobilisation.
Norway is among the major providers of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka. In 2009 Norway contributed with 94 million NOK (16 million USD) to support efforts of the UN, International and local Non-governmental Organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Norwegian support for Sri Lanka’s relief and rehabilitation efforts following the tsunami early earmarked Livelihood, particularly in the fishery sector, and school construction as priority areas. Norway also supported reconstruction of religious sites in the South and the East. The total Norwegian contribution to rehabilitation efforts in Sri Lanka came to 320 million NOK (54 million USD).
For more information on Norwegian development cooperation visit NORAD's webpage