JULY 2005 PRESS RELEASES
Vocational schools, fisheries, and Arugam Bay bridge to be restored and improved through $133 million package from United States of America
Colombo, July 25 , 2005 . The United States of America signed an agreement today with the Sri Lankan government authorizing the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement a broad-reaching package of tsunami reconstruction projects, bringing total US tsunami assistance to more than $133 million.
In a ceremony at the Ministry of Finance & Planning today, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jeffrey J. Lunstead and Secretary to the Minister B. P. Jayasunera highlighted the strong partnership between the two countries to implement $57 million in new activities aimed at restoring Sri Lanka's productive infrastructure and economy. These large-scale infrastructure projects include construction of an all-new bridge over Arugam Bay, rehabilitation of up to 14 vocational technical centers including construction of two new model schools, and reconstruction and upgrades of fishing harbors in Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, and Dondra. A n additional $20 million for tsunami recovery at the local level provided through a separate mechanism in Washington will bring the United States commitment of new funds to $77 million. This new funding complements the $56 million already obligated for the relief and recovery program covering the transition from “camps to communities” that includes the ongoing REVIVE livelihoods restoration program and the “Bounce Back” international tourism campaign.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Lunstead noted that the Unites States had turned its pledge of $133 million to support of relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts following the tsunami into reality for the people of the tsunami affected areas of Sri Lanka. “We are extremely pleased to take this significant step to help reconstruct Sri Lanka after the tsunami,” Ambassador Lunstead said. “We carefully selected the large projects to have the greatest impact toward post-tsunami economic recovery, and the smaller projects are designed at the local level to help people whose lives have been so tragically disrupted.”
USAID Mission Director Dr. Carol Becker added “The successful implementation of this important agreement will involve the efforts of a wide range of government officials, countless numbers of people from the affected communities and the private sector. I know that with their support we can make an impact in helping to rebuild livelihoods and communities in areas affected by the tsunami. We are extremely proud of the response to the tsunami disaster by the United States Government and by the outpouring of support and generosity of people from all walks of life all across America.”
December, the US government has provided $56 million in the relief phase for emergency food, supplies, water and sanitation, “cash for work” programs that contributed to the immediate cleanup, reconstruction and economic support and for the construction of 8,000 transitional shelters for families affected by the tsunami. USAID has also focused on restoring livelihoods through a program called REVIVE, which provides assistance to micro-entrepreneurs and through a tourism promotional campaign to help tourism bounce back and quickly restore jobs in the tourism industry.
Community focused micro-enterprise programs will continue to help get affected families back on their feet. Responding to special needs of those affected by the tsunami, the USAID program will continue to help children recover from the trauma of the disaster including the construction of 100 children's parks and assistance to ensure accessibility for the disabled in newly constructed buildings.