Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2011-06-29

Emergency Assistance Project for Livelihood Restoration of Resettled Internally Displaced people in the North

- on a proposal made by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, arrangements have been made to obtain an Emergency Grant Assistance of US$ 2.5 million (about Rs.285.00 million) from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to implement the above project for rapid economic development in the Northern Province. The total cost of the project is US$ 2.8 million (approximately Rs.317.8 million) and the Government contribution for the project will be US$ 150,000 (approximately Rs.17.10 million). The community contribution is estimated to be US$ 137,500 (approximately Rs.15.7 million). The following are the projects to be implemented:

* a Minimum of 200 Km of Field Irrigation Canals and 100 Km. of Rural Access Roads will be rehabilitated.
* At least 2000 Internally Displaced Persons (from selected families) will be trained in the improvement of agricultural productivity and self employment.
* about 2500 resettled families will be benefited from the above projects.