The US Embassy in Colombo has announced it will provide $1 million to support resettlement efforts in Sampur, in the Trincomalee district, as part of its “continuing commitment to strengthen Sri Lanka’s peace and development”.

“Our goal is to help Sri Lankans around the country overcome the effects of conflict and displacement, improve the lives of their families and communities, and live with dignity,” said the new US Ambassador Atul Keshap.

The first $100,000 will be managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide the newly-resettled communities with a range of services and means of support to meet their basic needs, the embassy said in a statement. Another $900,000 is earmarked to build two schools in the Sampur region with facilities to support and house displaced families.

The embassy further said the aid is part of broader U.S. efforts to build schools, hospitals, markets, and other facilities for people in former conflict-affected communities. Other programs include helping provide job opportunities and entrepreneurship skills for people across Sri Lanka.

Sampur was held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam until 2006, after which the Sri Lankan military occupied the land. The Tamil displaced are currently in camps in the region, but hopes of resettlement of all displaced remain low, despite government pledges to release some of the land, due to the construction of a thermal power plant on private land.

See statement in Tamil and Sinhala.

Sirisena visits Trincomalee, announces release of military occupied lands (22 Aug 2015)