Netherlands’ financial assistance to Sri Lanka for a rural bridges project.

The Netherlands has granted an additional EUR 730,000 to Sri Lanka, bringing its total grant contribution for the rural bridges project to over EUR 18.9 million. This latest grant, which accounts for about 37% of the total project cost, is part of a larger effort to assist Sri Lanka with its debt burden. The project is a key initiative to enhance mobility and connectivity in rural communities by constructing 162 bridges.

The project has made significant progress, with 151 out of the 162 bridges already completed as of September 2025, reaching a physical progress of 96%. This strong progress indicates the project is on track to meet its expected full completion by February 2026. Initially, the project was financed through a combination of a EUR 41.8 million loan from Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. and a EUR 13.9 million grant from the Netherlands Foreign Investment Bank ‘Invest International’.

Due to Sri Lanka’s economic challenges, the Netherlands demonstrated its commitment to the project by increasing its grant contribution in 2024 by approximately EUR 5.3 million. The latest grant of EUR 730,000 further solidifies this support, contributing to the project’s successful continuation despite financial hurdles. This demonstrates a strong partnership aimed at improving the country’s infrastructure and easing its financial strain.

Source: https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=112397