Sri Lanka war refugee re-settlement gets World Bank aid

Dec 18, 2009 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's war refugee re-settlement efforts will get World Bank fund to re-build infrastructure and economic activities, in the north and east of the country which has emerged from a three decade long conflict. A 77 million US dollar credit will help 100,000 refugees in the north return to their homes. Of that 65 million US will go for village level drinking water, road and irrigation facility restoration. It will give 'cash for work' opportunities for returning refugees.

It will also help returnees who wish get back too farming and fishing.

"The challenges of reconciliation and reconstruction are daunting," Naoko Ishii, World Bank's country director for Sri Lanka said in a statement.

"The approval of this response package by the World Bank’s Board of Directors demonstrates that development partners recognize the challenges that the country is facing and want to help."

The World Bank will also give another 12 million US dollars for the most vulnerable refugees, women headed households, youth, landless people, disabled and ex-combatants.

Provincial Roads

The lender said it has approved a 105 million US dollar project for provincial road in the North and East and Uva provi