Japan donates generators for tsunami refugee camps

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 June 2005, 13:58 GMT]
Japanese Government is donating 100 generators for use in camps where tsunmi refugees have been given temporary shelter, a press release from the Embassy of Japan issued in Colombo Tuesday said.

Full text of the press release follows:

Japan provides 100 generators for use in Camps for tsunami displaced

The Government of Japan provided 100 units of 10KVA diesel generators to be used by the displaced people living in camps in 8 districts under its Non- Project Grant Aid scheme. The generators were handed over by H.E. Mr. Akio Suda, Ambassador of Japan to the Hon. Kumara Welgama, Deputy Minister of Power and Energy at the Ceylon Electricity Board, Distribution Stores Complex, Opatha, Kotugoda.

The recent tsunami left about 800,000 people displaced and most of them had to be provided shelter in temporary camps, until permanent houses are made available. In view of the need to provide better living conditions and facilities to the people in these camps, the Ceylon Electricity Board requested for generators be provided. The Government of Japan provided US $ 80 million under its Non-Project Grant Aid scheme for assisting in the tsunami relief and rehabilitation efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka. The power and energy sector is one area identified to be supported under this grant aid scheme.

In order to ensure the effective use of the generators, grant funds will also be provided for wiring of the camps and transport of the generators to the districts concerned. The total cost associated with the provision of the 100 units of generators is approximately Rs. 36 Million. It is expected that displaced persons in the districts of Jaffna, Mullativu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Hambantota and Matara will immensely benefit from this, as it would contribute towards improvements to their living conditions.

Mr. P. Virahandi, Secretary, Ministry of Power and Energy, Mr. Ananda Gunasekera, Chairman, Ceylon Electricity Board and other officials were also associated with the ceremony. End.