US provides funds to bridge the language gap in Eastern Sri Lanka

The United States government in an effort to overcome the language barrier between the Sinhala and Tamil communities is providing funds to train government officials in both languages.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing Sinhala and Tamil language training to elected government officials and staff from 11 local government authorities in Eastern Province, the US Embassy in Colombo announced in a press release today.

USAID is funding a three-year initiative to promote good governance and human security in the East entitled Supporting Regional Governance (SuRG) with the goal to build participatory and transparent local government and to improve responsiveness to local community needs, according to the press release. Read more ...

Sri Lanka – Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #13 (FY 2009)

On June 17 and 18, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires and USAID/OFDA staff visited two USAID/OFDA-funded primary health care centers established by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Manik Farm IDP camp. The primary health care centers are equipped with pharmacies and staffed with GoSL Ministry of Health (MoH) doctors and nurses. IOM had established six of the 10 planned primary health care centers at the Manik Farm site as of early June.

While in Vavuniya District, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires and USAID/OFDA staff also visited two USAID/OFDA-supported referral hospitals established by implementing partner Medical Teams International (MTI). The two referral hospitals receive up to a total of 3,000 patients per day. USAID/OFDA supports these hospitals with funding provided through an umbrella grant with UMCOR.

On June 12, the MoH reported having provided 37 ambulances equipped with basic life support equipment to hospitals providing care to IDP patients. The MoH plans to contribute an additional 40 ambulances to primary health care centers in IDP camps, with the assistance of MTI and local government authorities. Read more ...

Sri Lanka – Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #10 (FY 2009)

On May 23, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes visited Manik Farms internally displaced person (IDP) camp in Vavuniya District and also participated in an overflight assessment of the former conflict zone. During the visit, the U.N. Secretary-General met with the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as other GoSL, U.N., and local and international relief organization officials. The U.N. Secretary-General called on the GoSL to facilitate immediate and full humanitarian access to IDP camps, particularly Manik Farms; early IDP return to areas of origin; rapid IDP screening and registration; family reunification; and freedom of movement. Read more ...

Sri Lanka – Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #9 (FY 2009)

Between May 14 and 18, the remaining estimated civilian population of approximately 85,000 people departed the area formerly held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) movement and now controlled by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), according to unconfirmed GoSL reports. As of May 21, nearly 270,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were residing in IDP camps and transit sites.

On May 19, GoSL President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially announced the end of the 25-year civil conflict in an address to the Sri Lankan Parliament. On May 18, international media cited unconfirmed GoSL reports regarding the death of the head of the LTTE movement and other senior LTTE leaders. Read more ...

Sri Lanka – Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #8 (FY 2009)

Relying on recent satellite images, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that between 50,000 and 75,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) remained in the conflict zone as of May 13. Read more and download report ...

Sri Lankan youth in former war zone get US training

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said it is providing training scholarships to 500 young people from Sri Lanka's north and east which is recovering from decades of war.

The scholarships are given through the agency's Unlimited Potential Partnership program (UPP) which currently provides workforce training programs in three key industries - apparel, media, and tourism.

A total of 2000 scholarships will be available throughout Sri Lanka, with USAID providing 500 scholarships to youth in the east and north. Read more ...

US donates US$ 6 million relief to IDPs in Northern Sri Lanka

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced that it has donated $6 million (Rs 720.5 million) aid to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in northern Sri Lanka.

The grant, made through the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is for non-food aid assistance to provide short-term, life-saving interventions for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in northern Sri Lanka, a press release by the US Embassy in Colombo said.

This grant to the United Nations and non-governmental organizations is in addition to the USAID's recent announcement of a $15 million (Rs 1.8 billion) donation of food aid to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP). Read more ...