Japan extends funds for two livelihood projects in Trincomalee, Ratnapura

The Government of Japan provided a sum of US$162,611 (approximately Rs.18 million) for two livelihood projects in the Trincomalee and Ratnapura districts under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP).

The Project for Conflict Affected Community Uplift in the Trincomalee District will be implemented by the Association of Social Activities Development Sri Lanka (ASAD). This project, to which US$89,995 (approximately Rs. 10 million) is allocated, will support agricultural and fishery activities of the resettled communities in Seruwila Divisional Secretary Division in the Trincomalee district by rehabilitating a tank and fishery centre, constructing four agro wells, and providing agricultural and fishery equipment as well as agricultural seeds and plants. This project will benefit 1,520 families directly and 3,500 families indirectly in the communities and the surrounding areas.

The Project for Improvement of Hygiene and Living Environment at the Plantation Sector Communities, will be implemented by Community Development Foundation (CDF) on a budget of US$ 72,616 (approximately Rs.8 million). This project will help to improve the living environment and standard of hygiene and sanitation of three estates and two schools in the Ratnapura District by providing water supply systems and awareness programmes. These activities are expected to benefit 485 families and 1,500 students and teachers.

The Government of Japan has been focusing its assistance to Sri Lanka on (1) the consolidation of peace and reconstruction and (2) the medium and long-term development, and assisting a number of projects in the fields of the reconstruction in the North and East, agriculture and fisheries development, and rural development.

The projects range from large-scale projects such as Upper Kotmale project and Improvement of Jaffna Teaching Hospital to grass-roots projects supported through GGP. The GGP projects have advantages of providing quick and direct impact to the needs of grass-roots communities, and US$1.7 million (approximately Rs.190 million) was granted for 10 projects including 2 projects signed this time in the Japanese fiscal year 2010 (April, 2010 – March, 2011). These GGP projects are expected to promote social and economic developments as well as to enhance peace and reconciliation from the grass-roots level, which would contribute to the development and consolidation of peace throughout Sri Lanka.

The Grant Contracts between His Excellency Mr. Kunio Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan, and the representatives of ASAD and CDF were signed on March 10, 2011 at the Ambassador’s Residence in Colombo.