Rs. 880 m Japanese grant for Met. Dept, Sigiriya museum projects

COLOMBO: The Japanese Government has provided a grant of Japanese Yen 977 million (Rs. 880 million) for two projects, under its Grant Aid Programmes.

The first grant of Rs. 726 million is provided under General Grant Aid Programme for the improvement of Meterological and Disaster Information network. This grant is to develop a reliable communication network among institutions and to improve the meterological observation system and thereby the improvement of meterological and disaster information network.

The new project will strengthen the weather information network and automatic weather observation systems of the Department of Meteorology, by automating 38 meterological stations. The automatic weather information system will be connected to the Head Office of the Department of Meteorology in Colombo through a real-time satellite communication network.

The weather related information and forecasts as well as warnings of predicted disasters are to be conveyed to organisations through the proposed intra-agency communication network. The basic designs for the project have been carried out with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This project will be implemented by the Meteorology Department under the supervision of the Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry in collaboration with Japanese consultants and contractors. The second grant of Rs. 153 million is provided under the Japanese Cultural Grant Aid Programme to supply essential Display Equipment for the new Archaeological Heritage Museum at the World Heritage Site, Sigiriya.

The installation of modern presentation and display equipment, under the proposed project will facilitate the dissemination of information to visitors and interpretation of the unique archaeological and cultural significance of the 4th Century monument at Sigiriya.

The grant assistance to improve the facilities at the Sigiriya Archaeological Museum will complement the construction of the Museum with Japanese Government help. Work on the museum buildings are expected to be completed by March 2008 end at a cost of about Rs. 220 million.

Japan has already provided financial assistance under the Tourism Resources Development Project to improve the access roads to the heritage site and improvement of the fresco gallery, observation platform and steel stairway leading to the rock summit, construction of visitor convenience and safety facilities and landscape improvements at the heritage site.

This project will be implemented through the Central Cultural Fund under the supervision of the Cultural Affairs Ministry in collaboration with Japanese counterpart consultants.

The signing of Exchange of Notes pertaining to the above two grants took place on Monday at the Finance and Planning Ministry. Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Kiyoshi Araki, signed the Exchange of Notes on behalf of the Japanese Government while Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning signed on behalf of the Sri Lanka Government.