USAID to help develop Sri Lankans’ livelihood

Wednesday, 24 July 2013 00:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has decided to help develop Sri Lanka’s industrial sector for improving people’s livelihood in association with the Divi Neguma Program, the Ministry of Economic Development said yesterday. This will provide housewives with the opportunity of contributing to family incomes within the safety of their homes, the Ministry added.

USAID’s Acting Mission Director Todd Sorenson said this to Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa when they met at the Ministry office recently. Providing housewives and others engaged in small scale industries with raw material, training and technology they need and also finding markets for their products will improve their living standards, according to Minister Rajapaksa. He told the USAID official that people have greatly benefited from Korean Government assistance given in the form of raw materials, training and know-how to develop cottage industries and from programs to help them market their products. Explaining in detail the life style of people living in the plantation areas, the Minister stressed the need for raising their living conditions as well as those of shanty dwellers in urban areas. He also drew attention to the need for streamlining working conditions of small-time fishermen. Improving the plantation sector and related areas was also discussed. Economic Ministry Additional Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne and Director Anuradha Kumarasinghe were among the senior officials who participated in the meeting.