EU Ambassador inaugurates new bridge in Mannar and primary school in Kilinochchi

Saturday, 9 November 2013 04:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Ambassador of the European Union David Daly, during his first official visit to the north, inaugurated a newly constructed bridge in a remote village Thevampiddy in the Mannar District on 31 October 2013. The traditional oil lamp lighting ceremony, opening ceremony and community meetings also witnessed the participation of the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Divisional Secretary and other prominent authorities.

The new bridge built by EU partner ZOA will be used as an access way to boat landing for more than 200 fishermen and remains a symbolic component of a larger project in the north and east of more than 2,9 million euros that has been designed to achieve a long term increase in household productivity and income. Some of the key initiatives in Mannar, worth 800,000 euros, implemented by the EU partner ZOA, include the rehabilitation of community infrastructure such as roads, schools, health centres, productive infrastructure such as fish landing sites combined with productive inputs, training on fish processing techniques life skills training, promotion of improved crop management methods etc. Ambassador Daly also took the opportunity of inaugurating a school in Mulangavil, Kilinochchi where he was welcomed by the students, the Zonal Education Officer, the Principal and the Zonal Director of Poonagary. The EU partnered again with the organization ZOA for the completion of this school which is an integral part of a larger EU initiative of more than 750,000 euros. 340 students from Anpupuram, Nachchikuda, Iranaimathanagar and Kumulamunai villages will benefit from this initiative. This primary school operated earlier from two temporary buildings, also supported through the EU (ECHO). The EU and its partners worked closely with the Zonal Education Office, Divisional Secretary and District Coordination Committee (DCC) during the planning and implementation of this initiative.