The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has provided COVID-19 protective and preventive equipment to 134 Local Government authorities across the Eastern, Northern, North-Central and Uva Provinces. 

The support to the Local Government authorities comes under the Capacity Development of Local Government Project (CDLG), which is a four-year project (2020-2023) funded by the European Union (EU). 

The project aims to strengthen the capacities of the selected Local Government authorities to be inclusive, responsive and accountable, so they are able to deliver better services to communities. 

The gear consisted of 600,000 face masks, 53,000 gloves, 400 protective goggles, 305 non-contact infrared thermometers (NCIT), and 8,000 500ml bottles of hand sanitiser, and other safety gear.

Recently, the preventative kits for the Eastern Province were handed over to Eastern Province Chief Secretary Thusitha Wanigasingha by Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka Robert Juhkam during a visit to Trincomalee. 

Eastern Province Commissioner of Local Government Manivannan, assistant commissioners of Local Government, commissioners of municipal councils, other senior staff from the Chief Secretariat of the province, and UNDP colleagues were present during the handover.