US embassy official inspects USAID projects in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 August 2004, 15:47 GMT]
Mr. James Endwills, US embassy official in Colombo, Wednesday visited three projects now being implemented in the Jaffna district with USAID assistance. He later attended a conference in the Jaffna district secretariat presided by the Government Agent Mr.S.Pathmanathan and discussed in detail with civil officials related to the ongoing development projects and proposed projects, sources said.

Mr.Endwills inspected the renovated medical quarters in the Moolai Co-operative Hospital and handed over a consignment of medical equipments needed to the maternity ward of the hospital.

Thereafter he visited the welfare centres located in Sandilipay area where internally displaced families who are unable to return to their own houses and lands due to high security zones in the Valigamam north are given shelter.

USAID provided drinking water and toilet facilities to about 450 IDP families at a cost of Rs 2m. A housing scheme for the IDPs is also being implemented with the USAID assistance in Sandilipay, sources said.

Mr. Endwills in the afternoon visited Chavakachcheri and donated sewing machines to five widows who lost their husbands due to war. He said the main objective of the US assistance is to restore normalcy in the lives of war affected people and also to consolidate the peace process, sources said.