More Japanese funds for North

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The persons who have been affected by the war during the past three decades used assistance to uplift their livelihoods and the Japanese government has decided to provide more funding towards this endeavour, newly appointed Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo said.

An MOU in this regard was signed between Japanese ambassador and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission Chief Richard Danziger.

The Japanese government had extended their assistance amounting to US Dollars 1.5 million through IOM for reintegration and reconciliation of affected communities in the North. These grant funds are to contribute to human security and stability of the country by catalyzing the process of reintegrating of ex-combatants and conflict-affected vulnerable groups into society through several programmes such as community based projects and community reconciliation programmes.

Japan’s overall assistance to the Northern Province has covered a wide range of areas to promote development and has continuously addressed humanitarian needs as well. Japan’s ongoing projects in the North include the improvement of the central functions of Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Vavuniya Kilinochchi transmission line’s constructions, demining assistance, development planning in Jaffna and Mannar districts and livelihood assistance.