The Paris-based Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia topped donor countries in providing official development assistance (humanitarian and development) in 2021 to low- and middle-income countries, with an amount of US$ 7.12 billion.
This aid constitutes 1.05 percent of the Kingdom’s gross national income, which means it has exceeded the target set by the United Nations, which is for donor countries to allocate 0.7 percent of their gross national income as official development aid, Khalid Hamoud Al-Kahtani - Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Sri Lanka, in a media statement said.
The directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, contributed to this great achievement that placed the Kingdom at the forefront of international humanitarian action with all merits and entitlements.
The Kingdom was throughout its history, and is still, a benevolent country that extends its hand of goodness to help the distressed and provide relief to the needy wherever they are. The Kingdom continues on the same noble approach that embodies the established values of its wise leadership and its generous people, and that the exceptional and successive achievements come as a result of the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030.
According to the data of the OECD for the year 2021, the most prominent sectors of development aid are humanitarian operations, food security, shelter, education, water, environment and health.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia provided multiple assistances to implement development projects in Sri Lanka as well over the last several years. The Saudi Fund for Development has provided nearly US$ 455 million to finance 46 projects.
The most important ones among them are the Colombo Water Supply and Sewerage in Colombo City (SR 99.9 million); Electric Power Transmission (SR 48.13 million); Mahaweli Ganga Downstream Development System ‘B’ Left Bank (SR 85 million); Health Facilities Development in Colombo City (SR 45 million); Batticaloa – Trinco Road Development (SR 40 million); Development of Health Facilities in Colombo City (SR 11 million); Epilepsy Hospital and Health Centre (SR 75 million); Kalu Ganga Development (SR 172.5 million); SR 225 million for Road Network Development; SR 225 million for Improvement of Peradeniya – Badulla – Chenkaladi Road; SR 45 million for Epilepsy Hospital and Health Centre; SR168.75 million for Development of Left Bank of Kalu Ganga; SR 105 million for Development of Wayamba Township; SR 60 million for Development of Kalu Ganga and SR187.50 million for Construction of the Medical Faculty at Sabragamuwa University.
The total amount granted for these projects is Saudi Riyal 1,592.78 million, equivalent to US$ 425 million. In addition, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has implemented 11 projects, including shelter, food and non-food items, support and coordination of humanitarian operations and charity works from 2005 to September 30, 2022.
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