WFP gives Rs 4,524 m worth food to Lanka

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) agreed to provide Sri Lanka food items worth Rs 4,524 million during the next two years.

WFP resident director Mads Lofvall handed over the document in this regard to Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the ministry yesterday.

The financial assistance from January 1, 2013 to December 2014 is expected to cover maternal and child nutrition, food for those whose work involves risk and lunch for schoolchildren. Nearly 325,000 will benefit per year. This is being done under the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) jointly implemented by the government and the WFP since 2002 to provide food assistance to people affected by the three decade conflict.

WFP executive director Rome Ertharin Cousin informed Minister Rajapaksa that approval has been granted for the budget increase to PRRO to Sri Lanka.

Lofvall commended the Sri Lankan government for providing 10,000 metric tons of rice to Ethiopia through the WFP and assured assistance to Sri Lanka. Minister Rajapaksa expressed appreciation for the WFP assistance to strengthen the Divineguma programme and develop Sri Lanka's agriculture. The minister said a survey on food security, nutrition, poverty and related issues is already being done at grama sevaka level.