Japan supports a Livelihood Improvement Project for the Resettled Communities through Japanese NGO

The Government of Japan has extended US$636,874 (approximately Rs. 80 million) to the “Livelihood Development Project in Resettlement Areas in Trincomalee: Phase III” which will be implemented by Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) in the Tricomalee District under the Japan-NGO Cooperation Grant Scheme. PWJ is a Japanese NGO, actively involved in reconstruction and development (assistance) in the Northern and Eastern Provinces since 2009.

This project is the third of three phases of the programme for resettled communities to improve livelihoods in the areas of agriculture and dairy farming. During the first two years of the programme, fourteen minor tanks have been rehabilitated and the Farmers’ Organizations and Livestock Welfare Societies have been provided withrelevant trainings and equipment. The entire programme is expected to benefit more than 2,000 families in the Trincomalee District.

Japan is committed, and strongly supports initiatives for global peace and prosperity and hence encouragesSri Lanka’s efforts for national reconciliation as a means of sustaining long-term development in the country. It is in this context that Japan was a key partner in the peace process and provided its unstinted support to reconstruct and rebuild the Northern and Eastern areas, with highest priority to the welfare of the people.

Commenting on the project Ms. Taniguchi said “We are committed to strengthening the organizational capacity of Farmers’ Organizations and Livestock Welfare Societies through continuous monitoring, so that they can assist individual members in the long term. In this phase, we will renovate eight more minor tanks with farmers, and continue working with dairy farmers at the community level. We are hoping to establish a sustainable model to diversify and stabilize their income sources so that other communities can follow. The resettled communities are making great efforts to improve their livelihoods and we want to support their potential.”

The Grant Contract was signed between His Excellency, Mr. Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador of Japan and Ms. Kana Taniguchi, Country Representative, Peace Winds Japan, on 20th February 2013 at the Ambassador’s Residence in Colombo.