Japan grant for fire fighting engines in EPZs

Japan has given 300 million Japanese Yen (Rs 590 million) to strengthen firefighting units in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) under the state-owned Board of Investment (BOI) through equipment upgrades and capacity building, the Finance Ministry said.

Sri Lanka’s export processing zones under the BOI comprise around 145,000 employees in 285 enterprises across the fourteen (14) export processing zones island-wide.

“Enhancing the fire fighting capacity in these zones has been identified as crucial to ensuring the safety of employees and properties,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement after signing the grant.

The grant was signed between K.M. Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and Akio Isomata, the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, on behalf of the Government of Japan.

Japan’s Economic and Social Development Programme gave the grant to procure four firefighting vehicles, each with a 4000L water tank capacity, and 12 sets of equipment for the Katunayake, Biyagama, Seethawaka, and Wathupitiwala EPZs.

“This assistance will significantly boost investor confidence, and the prompt emergency response from these units will help protect workers and properties, minimizing losses,” the Ministry said.