Lankans obliged to help victims of terrorism

It is the duty of all Sri Lankans to uplift the living standards of the people who have been suffering for the past 30 years due to terrorism, NGO Secretariat Director General Lakshman Hulugalle said.

He was addressing a media briefing at signing ceremony of the Grant Contracts between Japanese Ambassador Kunio Takahashi and the Sarvodaya, Sewalanka Foundation and the Halo Trust to uplift the families who underwent great hardships due to terrorism.

The Government of Japan provided a sum of US $ 876.121 (Rs 98 million) grant aid for two reconstruction and de-mining projects in the North through Sarvodaya, Sewalanka Foundation and the HALO Trust to meet the emergency needs of the area and to promote peace and development.

The second project which will be implemented by the Sewa Lanka Foundation aims to support the initial socio-economic needs of resettled communities in the Northern Province.

The third project will be implemented by the HALO Trust to demine and to facilitate a safety environment in Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts, the Japanese Ambassador Kunio Takahashi said. Sarvodaya Executive Director Saman Algoda, Sewalanka Foundation Chairman Dr Harsha Kumara Navaratne and HALO Trust Program Manager Adam Tasinski also spoke.