ECONOMYNEXT – The Netherlands has authorised an extra grant of 730,000 euro to help Sri Lanka’s rural bridges challenge, a serious initiative to enhance connectivity and mobility in rural components of the island, the island nation’s Finance Ministry stated.
The challenge, launched underneath a partnership between the Sri Lankan authorities and the Netherlands, goals to construct 162 rural bridges throughout the nation.
As of September 2025, 151 bridges have been accomplished, with bodily progress reaching 96 p.c. Officers count on the remaining bridges to be completed by February 2026, marking the profitable conclusion of this system.
Sri Lanka initially entered right into a 41.8 million euro mortgage settlement with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. of the Netherlands, protecting 75 p.c of the entire challenge value.
The remaining 25 p.c (13.9 million euro) got here by means of a grant from Make investments Worldwide, a Dutch state-owned financing establishment.
Nevertheless, in recognition of Sri Lanka’s ongoing financial disaster, the Netherlands elevated its grant contribution in 2024 by 5.3 million euro, elevating its share to 35% and easing Colombo’s debt burden.
With the most recent injection, the Netherlands’ whole grant help now quantities to 18.9 million, representing about 37 p.c of the general challenge value.
“These bridges join farmers to markets, youngsters to colleges, and households to healthcare,” Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Financial Growth stated after assembly Appearing Dutch Ambassador Iwan Rutjens in Colombo.
Rutjens reaffirmed the Netherlands’ dedication to Sri Lanka’s growth journey.
“We’re happy to help this challenge, which immediately improves the every day lives of rural residents. The Netherlands stays open to exploring concessional financing and cooperation in future growth priorities,” he stated.
Growth specialists say the challenge is essential for lowering isolation in rural districts, significantly within the Northern, Japanese, and Uva Provinces, the place poor infrastructure has lengthy hindered financial alternatives.
Analysts additionally level out that by partially changing loans with grants, the Netherlands has helped Sri Lanka ease strain on its already strained exterior debt.
The Rural Bridges Undertaking is now thought of a mannequin of worldwide cooperation, combining concessional loans with growing grant help to make sure that Sri Lanka’s most susceptible communities usually are not left behind. (Colombo/September 11/2025)
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