More Swedish aid for Lanka

THE Swedish Government which signed a Development Cooperation Agreement with Sri Lanka in 2003 has extended the agreement by another two years to include 2006 and 2007 and has agreed to grant 180 million Swedish Crone (Rs. 2.34 billion) as further aid.

The aid agreement emphasises priority to fund programmes to promote peace, democracy, human rights, poverty alleviation and reconstruction and rehabilitation of tsunami devastated areas.

Finance and Planning Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera and Swedish Delegation Chief Jarkar Thunberg signed the agreement on December 12. Foreign Resources Department Director General Sujatha Cooray was present.