What's New
AID in Action
Presidential host finds
bittersweet fortune
“I have had so much help and good luck since the tsunami,”
Suranjika said after she recovered the jewelry. “I still miss my brother
too much, but he is with me here in spirit." Suranjika said she will
never forget the kindness displayed by the American supporters of her village,
especially from President Clinton. Her eyes widen when she recalls the former
president, and says she’s writing him a letter. “He promised me
he’d come back to Sri Lanka.” [AID in Action, Jul05]
Tsunami News
Tsunami early warning system team “scopes”
Sri Lanka’s needs
A multi-agency team coordinating the US government’s support for developing
the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System met with officials of the Government
of Sri Lanka, NGOs, private sector, donors, USAID and U.S. Embassy staff.
The information gathered is critical to the two-year, $16.6 million regional
effort. The purpose of the “scoping” trip was to present and discuss
the warning system and to better understand early warning related efforts
already underway or being planned in Sri Lanka.
The meeting helped USG agencies and implementers “redirect, refocus,
and refine” proposed activity plans and get a first hand understanding
of how different agencies work in Sri Lanka at the national and community
levels. Based on strong participation of and positive feedback received from
Sri Lankan counterparts, the team anticipates a solid partnership in Sri Lanka,
making sure messages can be passed quickly and reliably to the community level
and preparing communities to respond to different types of warnings.
view more Sri Lanka
Tsunami Updates
view USAID Regional
Tsunami Update (28 Sep 05, pdf)
view USAID Tsunami
Website
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Key Programs
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Democracy
and Governance: The Democracy and Governance
Program supports the peace process through strengthening the capacity of
national stakeholders and civil society organizations in conflict resolution
and peace advocacy. The program also supports decentralized government by
providing training and technical assistance to provincial and local government
to strengthen skills in administration, financial management and service
delivery. Community empowerment is an important feature of the program.
The program also supports decentralized government system in the country
by providing training and technical assistance to local authorities to strengthen
skills in administration, financial management and service delivery. |
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Economic
Growth: The Economic Growth Program
provides technical assistance to the government and private sector,
promotes business education for youth, provides expert advice on monetary
policy and statistical analysis, and explores ways to extend access
to information and communication technologies to rural areas. The
mission is also involved in regional programs involving energy and
the environment. |
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Humanitarian
Assistance:The Humanitarian Assistance
Program focuses on addressing the needs of especially vulnerable
population groups after two decades of armed conflict in Sri Lanka.
These include people living with physical disabilities, children
and young people affected by violence and the social disruption
of the armed conflict, and victims of torture, and people at-risk
or living with HIV/AIDS. |
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Transition
Initiatives: The Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)
program awards small-grants to mostly community-level organizations
to increase awareness and understanding of key peace-related issues,
as well as to enhance collaboration among diverse groups - ethnic,
political or otherwise - to set and address local priorities. |
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| welcome |
As the 50th anniversary of USAID support and assistance to the people of Sri
Lanka approaches, we are pleased to launch the new mission web site. Since the
tsunami, the USAID has worked to restore normalcy to thousands of people who
lost their loved ones, their homes and livelihoods. Since the day after the
tsunami, recovery and reconstruction from its devastating effects has become
the primary focus of our mission activities.
At the same time, USAID continues its ongoing programs to help the country address
some of the issues impeding development. These programs are providing support
for an enduring peace after many years of the armed conflict, improving democratic
governance, providing humanitarian assistance, and promoting economic growth.
We work with the Government, private sector and civil society. The Mission's new
five year Strategy that began in 2004 has already yielded successes at both the
national and community level.
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| contact us |
USAID/Colombo
Department of State
Washington, DC 20521-6100
Tel: 011+9411.247.2855
Fax: 011+9411.247.2850 |
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