Japan provides Rs 300 m for livelihood development

Shirley WIJESINGHE

The Government of Japan has provided Rs. 300 million towards the enhancement of peace in Sri Lanka during the year ended February 2009.

This financial assistance package mainly focused on 16 projects to enhance peace and uplift the lives of people in rural areas of Sri Lanka under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) and it has been released to Local and International Non -Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Governmental Agencies in various districts.

Out of the total assistance, the Japanese Government has extended Rs. 60 million to seven projects for livelihood development in conflict affected communities in the Trincomalee, Mannar, and Vavunia districts. These projects would improve the lives of affected communities and contribute to the return of IDPs.

The seven projects covered by the grant were in the agriculture, building and reconstruction of agro wells and channels, social activities development, human security intervention, developing basic infrastructure and agriculture and health sector development sectors.

Humanitarian demining for early resettlement of IDPs is another task of the financial package.

To facilitate the resettlement of IDPs in the North and East, Japan contributed Rs.200 million for humanitarian mine clearance activities in Sri Lanka through three International NGOs, namely, the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, Danish Demining Group and Mines Advisory Group.

The Japanese Government believes that demining activities together with livelihood support in the conflict affected communities would enhance the stability in Sri Lanka.

The package will also uplift the lives of people in the rural areas too. The Government of Japan is also funding six projects in the Anuradhapura, Badulla, Puttalam, Galle, Kurunegala and Matale districts.