Japanese grant for agricuture projects in Batticaloa

Japan provided US$ 153,553 (Approximately Rs. 16.56 million) to the Sewalanka Foundation and the Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya for agriculture restoration and food security projects in the Batticaloa district under its Grant Assistance for Grass roots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme.

The Sewalanka Foundation will rehabilitate an irrigation channel and a tank, provide perennial crop and home gardening package and construct 15 wells in the Vavunnathivu and Vaharai DS divisions under the project for support of returnees’ agriculture livelihoods in the district.

The Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya will rehabilitate three irrigation channels and construct 21 agro wells in the Vellaveddvan, Pavakodicheni and Karavediyaru GN divisions under the project for ensuring the long term food security of resettled communities through building and rehabilitation of agro well and channels.

Sewa Lanka Foundation Chairman Dr. Harshakumara Navaratne and Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya Executive Director Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne entered into agreements with Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Kiyoshi Araki at the Japanese Embassy yesterday.

The Batticaloa district has been affected by both the conflict and the tsunami resulting in a huge number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Many IDPs have returned and resettled in the project areas since March 2007 and it is necessary to ensure income sources and food security for the resettled people.

The main industry in the area is agriculture and these two projects will support resettled communities to rebuild their livelihoods benefitting several thousands of families.