The Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank signed agreed a $55 million loan to Sri Lanka to improve urban services, preserve cultural and environment assets and improve liability in Jaffna said the World Bank in a press release yesterday.

 The credit will add development of rapidly urbanising Jaffna to the existing Strategic Cities Development Project (SCDP) added the statement.

The World Bank Senior Urban Development Specialist and Task Team Leader of the project Zhiyu Jerry Chen, said,

“Building trust among citizens and service providers is a challenge and an outcome we hope to achieve through the additional finance support to Jaffna through this project.

The SCDP was originally approved in 2014 to develop Galle and Kandy.

“There is substantial potential for economic growth in Jaffna, now that peace has returned.  An improved urban environment is a favourable habitat for the developing enterprises that one day will become the engines of growth,” said the Francois Clorres, the World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Stressing the need for consultation with Jaffna’s citizens in the development process,  press release made by the World Bank added,

“Guided by consultations with Jaffna’s citizens, the project will attempt to improve the road network and rehabilitate the drainage system while preserving the city’s ponds, which have played an important role in flood management and which could be key to climate change adaptation. In addition, the project aims to preserve cultural heritage assets such as public spaces and parks as well as encouraging cycling.”  

The new World Bank country director, who is set to assume office at the end of August, Dr Pswarayi Riddihough in a meeting with Sri Lanka’s finance minister Ravi Karunayake said the World Bank was ready to  “extend its full assistance towards Sri Lanka,” reported Colombo Page.

World Bank visits Sri Lanka, Sirisena requests four years of assistance (26 May 2016)