The European Commission plans to allocate a 350 million euro post-tsunami reconstruction package to Asia and Sri Lanka will receive 100 million euro, the Sunday Observer reported on Sunday.
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner will arrive in Colombo Monday, the paper said.
"The Commissioner will underline the EU's strong commitment to Sri Lanka, both as a Co-Chair in the Tokyo Donor Conference and as well as a substantial trading partner and a donor," according to a media communique issued by the European Commission.
Ferrero-Waldner will meet President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama and Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
"I am determined that our support will be swift, efficient and reflect our long-term partnership. Europe will not forget how Sri Lanka has suffered," the communique quoted the commissioner as saying.
The 100 million euro reconstruction package, of which 40 million will be allocated to the Matara-Batticaloa road project, is in addition to the 31 million euro humanitarian assistance already delivered in the island state.
(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2005)
