More UK funding for reintegration

Saturday, 3 December 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

British Deputy High Commissioner, Robbie Bulloch, visited the North this week, where he announced additional UK funding of £150,000 for the reintegration of ex-combatants after their release from custody.

This brings the total UK contribution to £650,000 this year (approximately Rs. 116 million). He also visited a demining project in Jaffna, which is being supported by £3 million of UK money (approximately Rs. 535 million).

Commenting on his visit, the British Deputy High Commissioner said, I am delighted to announce additional funding for the reintegration of ex-combatants, which we hope will help to bring about sustainable peace. The UK has long supported a range of initiatives to help Sri Lankans restart their lives after the conflict. Today, I saw a demining project which will enable people to return to their villages. And I had a chance to speak to people who are rebuilding their homes and starting their own businesses, with the help of British funding.

The Deputy High Commissioner also visited the Thellipalai rehabilitation centre, and had a range of meetings with political and military leaders and members of civil society. The demining site is at Nagar Kovil in Jaffna. It is being cleared by the HALO Trust, a UK-based demining agency, to which the UKs Department for International Development contributed £3 million pounds (Rs. 535 million) in February 2011.

The reintegration project is managed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The UK contributes funds through the European Union (EU) to UNHABITAT for the building and repair of the homes of vulnerable people.

The UK’s contribution to the current multi-year EU aid programme in Sri Lanka is around 19 million (approximately Rs. 2.9 billion).