Dutch help for disaster response network

COLOMBO: The Dutch Government has provided euro 30.8 million (Rs. 4 billion) for upgrading the disaster response network in the Western Province and selected urban areas.

Of this amount, Euro 10.6 million will be provided by the Netherlands Government on a grant basis under its Development Related Export Transactions Programme and the balance euro 20.2 million on a loan basis.

The project will reinforce the current emergency response network in the Western Province and high density urban areas in the other Provinces by upgrading the urban rescue network including investments in modern equipment.

The fire fighting services and emergency rescue operations of eighteen urban local authorities of which seven is located in the Western Province, three each in Central and Southern Provinces, two in the North Central Province, one each in the Sabaragamuwa, Uva and North Western Provinces are to be upgraded under this project.

The project will also facilitate the setting up of a Special Response Unit with specialised human and material resources to support first line response to large incidence and disasters. Further, a multidisciplinary fire and rescue training centre will be established to provide emergency service training to all emergency response personnel in Sri Lanka.

The Agreements for the grant and loan funding were signed yesterday at the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

Signed the Agreements on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.