Japanese government presents US$ 625,000 grant aid for Sri Lanka’s demining work in the Northern Province
The Japanese government under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP) has reportedly extended a total sum of US$ 625,000 (Approximately Rs. 97 million) in grant aid for humanitarian demining in northern Sri Lanka.
‘The Project for Humanitarian Mine Clearance for Resettlement and Livelihood in Northern Sri Lanka’ will be implemented by the HALO Trust and the Grant Contract was signed between Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama and HALO Trust Acting Programme Manager Michael Dyer earlier this month at the Ambassador’s Residence in Colombo, reports stated.
Reports further stated that the project is expected to contribute to facilitating the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to make mine contaminated areas safe lands for internally displaced people to return and resume their livelihood activities.
The HALO Trust, one of the world’s largest and oldest humanitarian demining NGOs, will conduct humanitarian mine clearance in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu Districts.
Japan has been a major donor in the area of mine clearance in Sri Lanka since 2003, with more than US$ 33 million in total through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP). This contribution has helped to accelerate and facilitate the resettlement and recommencement of agriculture and other livelihood activities of the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs), in view of the 2020 target of the government of Sri Lanka to be mine impact free.
OSL take:
Japan has been one of the key lenders to Sri Lanka and the government of Japan continues to offer grant assistance to the Sri Lankan government to help in its development agenda. Foreign businesses could look at entering the Sri Lankan economy through joint ventures with Japanese companies or look at securing Japanese funding for projects to be implemented in Sri Lanka.
Article Code : | VBS/AT/20181112/Z_2 |