Colombo, Sri Lanka [28 April 2022]: During his recent visit to Sri Lanka, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Director-General Dr. Frank Rijsberman formally handed over the Sri Lanka Country Planning Framework (CPF) 2021-2025 to the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment; Dr. Anil Jasinghe, during a bilateral meeting held between the two institutions on 28 April 2022 in Colombo. Dr. Rijsberman stated that “After several years of preparation, this occasion marked that we have now firmly embarked on implementation of our partnership.”
Following Sri Lanka becoming the 30th member of GGGI in January 2019, the formulation of a CPF was initiated. Several rounds of consultations with the Government and other key in-country development partners were conducted, along with a review of Sri Lanka’s national development priorities, key policies, and plans. The final validation workshop for the updated CPF was successfully held on the 3 December 2021 under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and endorsed thereafter by the Ministry.
The Sri Lanka CPF lays out the basis for GGGI’s program in Sri Lanka country over the period 2021–2025. The CPF supports the positioning of green development in the country as an urgent priority. Key strategic thematic areas jointly identified by GGGI and the Sri Lanka Government include: (1) enhancing climate resilience through strengthening of the national adaptation planning process; (2) sustainable transport; (3) green energy; (4) promoting sustainable landscapes (forest cover increase/mangroves restoration), and (5) other emerging areas such as the circular economy.
During the official handover of Sri Lanka’s CPF 2021–2025, the Government sought support from GGGI for the implementation of Sri Lanka’s NDC sectoral plans and the National Environmental Action Plan. Recognizing that these are extraordinary times for Sri Lanka, Dr. Rijsberman assured the Ministry of GGGI’s continuous support to the Government on the ongoing initiatives while pledging to contribute to mobilizing green and climate finance for Sri Lanka’s priorities, including both coastal zone climate adaptation and renewable energy.