The Government of Japan today (16) decided to extend additional Emergency Grant Aid of USD 3.5 million for Sri Lanka in response to the challenging economic and humanitarian situation.

This Emergency Grant Aid will allow implementing humanitarian assistance activities delivering food worth USD 2 million through the World Food Programme (WFP), food, nutrition, health, sanitation worth USD 1 million through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and nutrition worth USD 0.5 million through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the people of Sri Lanka.

With the implementation of earlier assistance worth USD 3 million announced on May 20, this builds Japan’s support in response to the current situation up to USD 6.5 million in total. Japan hopes that this assistance will contribute to overcoming the hardship faced by the people of Sri Lanka, with whom Japan has long-standing and friendly relations.

A media release issued by the Japanese embassy also states : 

Japan has always been supporting Sri Lanka as a true and sincere friend since its establishment of diplomatic relations 70 years ago when His Excellency J.R. Jayewardene made a historic and noble speech of at the San Francisco Peace Conference on September 6, 1951. Based on this friendly relationship, Japan has continued to support sustainable development in Sri Lanka under three priority areas of (1) Promoting quality growth, (2) Development cooperation for inclusive growth, and (3) Mitigating vulnerability, amounting to more than 140 billion JPY

In the year 2022 itself, we have so far provided a total of approximately 35.7 Million USD for Grant Assistance (As of September), particularly under priority areas (2) and (3). Through these supports, Japan has provided both immediate and mid- and long-term assistance, addressing the urgent needs while enhancing own capacity and potentiality of the people of Sri Lanka for further growth.

We will continue our support for Sri Lanka’s sustainable development, as well as deepen our bilateral relations through the visit of His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, to Japan scheduled later this month. The Embassy of Japan hopes to continue to further strengthen our amicable relations.