USAID funds projects in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 August 2004, 09:08 GMT]
Three U.S. Government funded projects aimed at restoring basic services and improving livelihoods for conflict affected segments of the population were inaugurated in Jaffna Wednesday. A statement issued by the Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo said that Charge’ d’ Affairs of the Embassy James Entwistle, inaugurated the projects in Jaffna Wednesday.

The US embassy press release further said:

''The projects represent approximately US $ 275,000 in support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and will benefit more than 100,000 Sri Lankans. ''This morning, Mr. Entwistle handed over new equipment to the maternity ward and inspected two rehabilitated doctors’ quarters at the Moolai Cooperated Hospital.

''Following that he visited two Government welfare centres in the Sandilipay Division where U. S. support – including US $ 20,000 from the U.S.USAID Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) , through which the projects were funded aims to generate support for a negotiated settlement. ''Since March 2003, USAID/OTI’s flexible and fast small-grants program in Sri Lanka has made 190 grants – almost all to local; organisations—totalling US $ 4.2 million'', the US embassy statement said.