The United Kingdom has announced a £3 million humanitarian package of food and farming support for Sri Lanka, which it said would be “lifesaving” as the island continues to struggle with soaring food prices.
British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sarah Hulton said that the new package “will provide multipurpose cash, livelihoods and other support to those most in need across the country including: pregnant and nursing mothers, children, low-income fisherman and daily wage labourers”.
“This latest announcement is part of our wider engagement to support Sri Lanka including through the World Bank, IMF and our long-running programmes to address the legacies of conflict,” she added.
UK Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, and the UN, Lord Tariq Ahmad said “the UK stands by the people of Sri Lanka who are facing such a challenging time”.
“The ongoing crisis is deeply concerning with so many in dire need of help,” he added. “We are providing £3 million of lifesaving support to the most vulnerable and will continue to work with international partners to help Sri Lanka.”
The latest funding comes on top of the $5m already provided to Sri Lanka through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (to which the UK is the largest donor), and Britain’s ongoing support through the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
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