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Utilisation of aid:
Amunugama explains Govt's work plan
Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama
addressing a Forum on post tsunami activities in Paris explained the
full gamut of the work plan undertaken by the Sri Lanka Government to
ensure effective utilisation of aid granted to the country while also
touching on areas where aid is required.
The Minister was attending the High Level Forum on Joint
Progress Towards Enhanced Aid Effectiveness - from February 28 to March
2.
The Minister also received the rare privilege of
co-chairing one of the leading sessions on fostering mutual
accountability, jointly with the Minister of the House of Commons on the
final day of the Forum.
According to a Finance Ministry release, the High Level
Forum on Joint Progress Toward Enhanced Aid Effectiveness was
successfully held in Paris from February 28 to March 2 and Paris
Declaration on Aid Effectiveness Ownership, Harmonisation, Alignment,
Result and Mutual Accountability was adopted on March 2 with the
consensus of all participating countries together with other leading
donor agencies.
High powered delegations representing 120 donor and aid
receiving countries, participated in this High Level Forum.
Presidents/Prime Ministers/Ministers of each country led their
delegations at the Forum.
All leading donor agencies/institutions including the
World Bank, ADB, OECD, European Bank for Cooperation and Development,
European Commission, UNO etc. were represented.
The Forum was held at the Ministry of Economy, Finance
and Industry of France under directives of the French Government.
Relevant French Ministers also participated. Dr. Amunugama co-chaired
one of the leading sessions on fostering mutual accountability, together
with Minister of UK, on March 2, the final day of the Forum.
This is a rare and unique opportunity that the Minister
received to co-chair this session, on behalf of Sri Lanka considering
the very large number of participating countries.
The Minister also made a presentation at the Forum on
post-tsunami activities carried out by the Government together with the
comprehensive work plan prepared by the Government to ensure effective
utilisation of aid granted towards the country and the other areas of
interest to receive further aid to the country in the Forum.
Dr. Amunugama met a number of his counterpart Ministers
attending the Forum and had successful bilateral meetings with them on
further aid for the country, debt freezing etc. |
