Three agreements, two of which will facilitate the rebuilding of the tsunami affected infrastructure in the Trincomalee district were signed today between the governments of Sri Lanka and France.
A 64 million Euro credit facility at a concessionary interest rate and re-payable in 20 years, will finance the rehabilitation of the Highway network, pipe borne water supply and power transmission facilities in Trinco, damaged by last year's tsunami.
The Secretary- General of the French Development Agency signed the agreement on behalf of the French government.
The MoU on the development of the Greater Trincomalee Integrated Water Supply Scheme for 10 million Euros is under the Reserve Fund for Emerging Markets, which is the successor to the French Financial Protocol arrangement. The Minister Delegate for Cooperation, Development, & Francophony Brigette Girardin signed on behalf of her government.
The feasibility study for the expansion of the Trinco water supply scheme was done with a French government grant, while the National Water Supply and Drainage Board did the evaluation.
The French government also agreed to differ an outstanding debt of Euro 6, 190, 405. A MoU to this effect was also signed today. The Minister Delegate for Cooperation, Development, & Francophony Brigette Girardin signed on behalf of her government.
Ambassador Chitrangani Wagiswara signed all three agreements on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government, at France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
President Kumaratunga thanked the French government and people for their immediate help after the tsunami and recalled the French Health Minister's visit to the island in the aftermath. She further thanked the French Navy for their ships that provided valuable assistance.
The Sri Lankan President further thanked the French government for the help towards the Sri Lanka's rehabilitation work, particularly in the North East tsunami rehabilitation work and said Trinco is a microcosm that represents the whole country. She noted that Trinco is a beautiful tourist destination with its natural harbour.