$2.5 Million for Livelihood Training for Sri Lanka’s Internally Displaced

The Japanese government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are providing a grant of $2.5 million for a skills-training project for approximately 2,500 internally displaced persons in northern Sri Lanka. The program will also include a cash-for-work option to develop infrastructure by rebuilding roads and irrigation canals.

“The project provides opportunities for vulnerable groups in resettled areas to get immediate income from the repair of damaged infrastructure, as well as skills training for future livelihood activities,” said K. M. Tilakaratne, the senior project implementation officer in ADB’s Sri Lanka resident mission.

The grant is being awarded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction that was established by Japan and the ADB in 2000, providing relief assistance to vulnerable communities. The program will work side-by-side with the ADB-run Conflict Affected Region Emergency Project, which is a $150 million loan to support rehabilitation of infrastructure.

The cash-for-work program will provide employment for thousands of residents who have recently been resettled. The work will consist of restoring and maintaining irrigation systems and access roads in the war-affected districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya. Residents benefiting from the cash-for-work program will be required to open savings accounts and to deposit 25 percent of their income.

The skills training will focus on sustainable agriculture, marketing of farm products, food processing and other self-employment skills.

Sri Lanka’s economic development ministry will be overseeing the implementation of the project. The government will be contributing $150,000 while the beneficiary communities will make in-kind contributions. The project is expected to be completed in December 2012.