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WFP to expand projects in Sri Lanka

by Nadira Gunatilleke

The United Nations World Food Programme will take part in the donor conference to be held in Japan, June this year and we are very pleased about the transparency in the implementation of WFP projects in Sri Lanka.

We will extend and expand our aid programmes in the coming years, said the newly appointed Asia Regional Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, Tony Banbury.

He was speaking at a press briefing held at the Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Ministry, Colombo. Mr. Banbury said that the total value of the assistance provided to Sri Lanka by WFP in last year is about US $ 7 million.

Representative and Country Director, WFP, Sri Lanka, Jeff Taft - Dick said that he was very impressed about the implementation of WFP projects in Sri Lanka. The community participation in WFP projects are very satisfactory. WFP programmes will continue and expand within the coming years, he added.

Answering a question posed by a journalist Taft said that the present political condition of the country has no impact on the operations of WFP which is entirely a humanitarian organisation, he said.

Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena said that at present the total number of refugees in the North-East regions is about 800,000 and the number of refugee camps is 346. The Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Ministry is responsible for the welfare of these refugees and resettling them in their native lands. After observing the success of WFP projects implemented by us, the WFP has promised to grant US $ 21 million for three years.

The malnutrition of N-E is at a very high level, especially among children, pregnant mothers and feeding mothers. The WFP will implement special nutrition programmes for them. The WFP will also implement projects in several villages such as Welioya, Padaviya and Kebithigollewa. Assistance worth Rs. 5.4 million was also provided to 8,314 families affected in Muttur incidents. According to the statistics there are about 30,000 young widows in the N-E region and WFP implement several welfare programmes enabling them to begin income generating projects for themselves.

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