Colombo, Sri Lanka – August 5, 2025
A high-level discussion with the Hon. Minister of Environment on the implementation of the Regional Block Grants (RBGs) and Innovation Grants (IGs) under the PLEASE Project in Sri Lanka was successfully held on Thursday, July 25, 2025. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Environment and brought together key stakeholders involved in the project’s implementation.

The session served as a platform to review the progress, achievements, and challenges of the five projects implemented under the PLEASE initiative in Sri Lanka. The focus was on assessing how the RBGs and IGs had supported environmental sustainability and local innovation across different regions of the country.

Key officers from all five PLEASE Project components, senior project officials, and representatives from the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) were in attendance. Their participation underscored the collaborative effort being made to align local project outcomes with broader national environmental goals.

Each grantee had the opportunity to deliver a brief presentation summarizing their innovations, offering the Hon. Minister valuable insights into the on-the-ground impact of the PLEASE Project, while also fostering meaningful dialogue among the Ministry, project teams, and regional partners.

The meeting marked an important milestone in the ongoing implementation of the PLEASE Project, reinforcing the commitment of all stakeholders to environmental sustainability, transparency, and continuous improvement through innovation and localized action.