ADB provides agricultural machinery to NE agencies

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 January 2003, 02:02 GMT]
The North East Community Restoration and Development (NECORD) project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Wednesday distributed agricultural machinery, implements and lorries worth around 117 million rupees among the implementing agencies in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya, Killinochchi and Batticaloa, sources said.

The event was held at the playground in front of the office of the North East Governor in Trincomalee.

ADB Country Director Mr.Cooney speaking at the occasion

Sri Lanka Country Director Mr.John R.Cooney participating as the chief guest inaugurated the distribution of the items to the heads of relevant government departments in the four districts.

In addition classroom furnitures were handed over to three schools in the Trincomalee district.

Agricultural machinery and vehicles will be used in the respective districts to rehabilitate the agricultural economy and health infrastructure facilities affected by the twenty year old war.

Assistance provided by the NECORD to the affected people in the northeast province would help them return to their normal life, Mr. Cooney added.

Display of agricultural machinery and vehicles to be distributed among implementing agencies

Peace talks were earlier held in Thailand and Norway. Now such talks are to be held at Berlin in Germany. Peace talks are now held between the leaders of the government and the LTTE in a meaningful manner, said Mr.John R. Cooney, ADB, Sri Lanka Country Director.

Next major aid conference is to be held at Tokyo in June. Proposals for developing roads, bridges and housing would be submitted by the SIHRN (Sub Committee of Immediate Humanitarian Needs) to be taken up at the Tokyo aid talks, said ADB Country Director Mr.John R. Cooney.

NECORD Project Director Mr.T.Lankaneson, NEPC Chief Secretary Mr.S.Rangaraja and Line Ministry Additional Secretary Mr. D.Wijetunge also spoke.

ADB Country Director John R.Cooney hands over keys of a four wheel tractor to a department official. NECORD Project Director Mr.T.lankaneson is on the left, NEPC Chief Secretary Mr.S.Rangaraja are Line Ministry Additional Secretary Mr.S.Wijetunge are standing on the right side

Four wheel tractors 05, two wheel tractors 07, combined harvester 07, Water pumps 15, sprayers 31 and lorries 02 were handed over to the implementing agencies at Wednesday event, sources said.