Programs
Tsunami Reconstruction
USAID's Tsunami Reconstruction Program consists of projects specially targeted to spur economic growth in Sri Lanka and assist local communities to grow their economies and recover from the devastating tsunami. These projects include:
- Replacement of the damaged Arugam Bay Bridge
- Fishing harbor repair and improvements at Hikkaduwa, Mirissa and Puranawella
- Nine vocational education schools (new and repaired), including two state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly "green" schools
- Pottuvil water treatment plant and supply systems
The environmental assessments and community consultations carried out for each of the construction components have been informative and positive. The process has taken into account inclusion of women, and equal ethnic and cultural representation across the board.
Arugam Bay Bridge
Side by side: the newly completed bridge alongside the damaged supports from the old bridge.
The new 185-meter long bridge over Arugam Bay in Ampara District officially opened on July 1, 2008, in the presence of H.E. President Mahinda Rajapakse. The Arugam Bay Bridge is the flagship project of USAID's Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Program and replaces the old bridge that was damaged by the 2004 tsunami. The new bridge, with its upgraded access roads, will be open to motor and pedestrian traffic, and will link the three ethnically diverse communities in Pottuvil, Arugam Bay, and Panama. These coastal villages are famous for their beautiful beaches, and the opening of the new bridge will help promote tourism in this area and benefit the local economy in other important ways.
The bridge consists of a composite of steel girders and concrete panels, rather than being all steel or concrete. This makes for a structure that is less expensive, faster to build and more durable. This design is often used in the United States, but has not previously been used in Sri Lanka due to the difficulty of obtaining appropriate steel girders and other prefabricated materials. In building the bridge, USAID has not just replaced a key piece of infrastructure, but has introduced a new technology to Sri Lanka.
Pottuvil Water Treatment Plant and Supply System
AmeriCares Country Director Lisa Hilmi (left), USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn, and Hon. Al-Haj A.L.M. Athaullah, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage raise glasses of clean drinking water to celebrate another step forward for the tsunami-ravaged community.
Immediately following the 2004 Tsunami, the Government of Sri Lanka identified that one of the critical human health needs was the challenge of providing safe drinking water for several Eastern region communities, including the Arugam Bay area. Thanks to an additional grant by AmeriCares, USAID has been able to complete an $8,2 million investment in wells, transmission lines, treatment plant and a large elevated storage tank to give the communities of Ulla and Pottuvil reliable and safe drinking water for the first time since the tsunami.
With the introduction of advanced water treatment technology and equipment, the new system can provide 4,000 liters per minute of clean water. This amount of water will be sufficient to supply over 40,000 residents, as well as local businesses and hotels. In addition to safeguarding the health of the local communities, it will contribute to stabilizing the tourist industry and help boost the local economy.
Fishing Harbor Upgrades
Fishermen repair their nets inside the new work area.
In the summer of 2008, USAID finalized a $12.7 million upgrade of three fishing harbors in Hikkaduwa, Mirissa and Puranawella to improve the livelihood of over 15,000 families in Southern Sri Lanka and help boost the nation's fishing industry following the tsunami.
The fishing industry is vital to individual livelihoods in the coastal communities and it also plays an important role in the economy of southern Sri Lanka. By repairing the tsunami-damaged fishing harbors, USAID also contributed to improving their capacity and thereby strengthening the industry itself. On the harbor projects, USAID has worked to promote interaction between community organizations and state agencies to facilitate planning and operation of the harbors, and has introduced new skill sets to the fishermen to help increase the value of fish brought into the harbors while improving environmental management and health & safety in the workplace.
Vocational Education
Students listen attentively during motorboat engine repair class.
In Eastern and Southern Sri Lanka, USAID has built and equipped nine new vocational educational schools, which will graduate over 2000 students per year. The vocational schools will teach key trades currently in high demand by the Sri Lankan workforce such as apparel, welding, electronic repair, masonry and carpentry, in addition to English language and computer training. Two of these facilities are environmentally friendly LEED "green" schools.
Training young people in vocational trades will help to provide good paying jobs in the near future, and will help boost both family income and the economic health of the districts and of Sri Lanka as a whole. To make sure the skills acquired by the students are in tune with the needs of their potential employers, USAID have developed the vocational skills curricula in consultation with the private sector. The vocational schools project also includes equipping the schools with all necessary items such as furniture, tools, sewing machines and other commodities to make them fully functional.
ADDITIONAL POST-TSUNAMI ACTIVITIES
Anti-Corruption Program
USAID has completed a $2.3 million post-tsunami anti-corruption program to train over 250 members of Auditor General's office and training for trainers to reach 1,200 staff charged with preventing corruption.
Playgrounds
USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn meets kids in one of the 87 new USAID funded playgrounds along Sri Lanka's coastline.
USAID has constructed 87 play parks in tsunami-affected districts to provide psychological therapy for tsunami-affected children. USAID developed the project in partnership with the Bush Clinton Fund and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, with the Sri Lankan NGO Sarvodaya as the implementer. The parks are designed to be family-friendly, and encourage multi-ethnic participation and community access, including access for the disabled.
Small Grants
USAID provided $23 million in funds for small grants to help local organizations address tsunami recovery needs in Eastern and Southern Sri Lanka. The small grants program worked inclusively with communities to identify priorities and to plan and implement projects to reconstruct local infrastructure such as markets, roads and schools that these communities have prioritized. The activities contributed to promote collaboration across ethnic and political boundaries, and foster better communication among local government authorities and the communities they serve.
Livelihoods assistance
USAID provided livelihoods assistance to 34,890 households, exceeding the target of 29,000, trained over 8,800 persons for new employment, granted loans to over 2,000 households, and assisted more than 9,000 community organizations and businesses following the tsunami. |
