Japan supports rural development

The Japanese government has extended US$ 85,104 (approximately Rs. 9.4 million) grant aid for a rural development project in Ratnapura district under its Grant Assistance for Grass roots Human Security Projects (GGP) to improve the living environment and livelihood of the targeted communities in the Balangoda and Pelmadulla Divisional Secretariat (DS) divisions, states a Japanese Embassy press release.

Under "the project for improving water supply facilities and access road in indigent communities in Ratnapura district," four water supply schemes and seven agro wells will be constructed and one access road will be rehabilitated. The project will be implemented by Sabaragamuwa Community Development Foundation, and around 400 families will be benefitted directly.

President of Sabaragamuwa Community Development Foundation Palitha Karunaratne says; "we are very grateful and thankful to the Government of Japan for giving us the financial support for this project, and we will implement the project for representing all the ethnic and religious groups such as Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims." The project has been developed and will be implemented in cooperation with several parties including the Pelmadulla Estate, Plantation Human Development Trust, and Ms. Minako Hayashi, a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) attached to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) working in the Pelmadulla Estate as a pre-school teacher.

As a strong development partner, Japan has been working together with the Government and the people of Sri Lanka to facilitate socioeconomic development of Sri Lanka. Considering Japan's own history of the development, it can be said that rural development plays a leading role in the development of a whole country.

This rural development project is envisaged to contribute greatly to the development in the targeted areas, and then lead to enhance national development of Sri Lanka.

The Grant Contract was signed between Ambassador of Japan Nobuhito Hobo and President of Sabaragamuwa Community Development Foundation Palitha Karunaratne on November 8, 2011 at the Ambassador's Residence.