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| Monday, 31 January 2005 |
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US to consider debt relief, tariff concession to Sri Lanka by Shirajiv Sirimane "U.S. Embassy's Charge d' Affairs, James Entwistle said on Saturday that the US government is looking at providing concessions to Sri Lanka including debt relief. "We will announce our plans on this very soon," he told the media in Colombo. He said that the United States will also send a fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka to access the tsunami damage to the tourism sector and explore ways and means as to how USA could help in rebuilding the tourism industry. "The US short term relief assistance to Sri Lanka is almost concluded and now we are looking at long term plans," he said. He said that another area the US is keen on is the coir industry as lot of people have lost their equipment due to the tsunami in all the affected areas. "Coir industry had provided many self employment opportunities especially for women in the coastal areas. The people who earned their living through the industry is keen on recommencing their business but are unable to do so due to lack of machinery. Our first priority would be to provide them with coir making machines or grant them start up finance aid program so that they could re commence their business," he said. The financial aid program will be launched with the assistance of the Non Governmental Organisations. Director USAID, Carol Becker said that some of the coir technology used in Sri Lanka are very traditional and some are outdated. "We are also looking at introducing new technology and machinery for the affected people involved in the coir industry," she said. Entwistle said that rebuilding the local government structure is one of their other priorities. "We would also help in micro finance so that affected entrepreneurs could re-commence their enterprises," he said. According to Entwistle the proposed Sri Lanka USA, FTA would take its usual course. Sri Lanka government exports to the US in 2003 amounted to US $ 338.5 million. Entwistle said the US is studying the possibility of offering Sri Lanka tariff concessions as well. |
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