EC aid for tsunami-hit areas

The European Commission (EC) has made a euro 39.4 million grant contribution to support Sri Lanka's efforts to rehabilitate tsunami-affected areas in Sri Lanka in partnership with the ADB.

The contribution will help rehabilitate 270 kilometers of national roads that form part of the route between Matara and Batticaloa as part of ADB's Tsunami-Affected Areas Rebuilding Project (TAARP). "We are grateful to the European Commission for this generous contribution. It is an important milestone in developing a broader and long-lasting cooperation with the European Commission," said Werner Liepach, Principal Director of ADB's Office of Cofinancing Operations.

These roads, which connect coastal communities, are debilitated, including narrow and pot-holed pavements, inadequate drainage, weak and old bridges, and ineffective road embankments.

The contribution will also help build capacity at Sri Lanka's Road Development Authority to sustain national road reconstruction works. TAARP, estimated to cost US$249.3 million, is helping to rapidly improve the living conditions of people in tsunami-affected areas by restoring basic social infrastructure, community and public services and livelihoods.