As prepared

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening and thank you for being here.

Until today, I had only read about Sri Lanka’s breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality.  I am so excited to be here today and see it all in person.

For the past 60 years, the Government and the people of the United States have demonstrated a strong commitment to assisting Sri Lanka in achieving sustainable development for a stable, democratic, and prosperous nation. 

As Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Asia Bureau and a representative of the U.S. Government, I am proud of our strong and enduring partnerships to improve the daily lives of Sri Lankans by working with government, community, civil society, and the private sector. I am here to convey the message that we intend to strengthen the already strong partnership between the U.S. and Sri Lanka in the coming months and years. 

Since 1956, the U.S. Government has invested more than 280 billion rupees ($2 billion) to support Sri Lanka and its people.  A wide diversity of USAID initiatives have benefited so many over the years including:

• Reducing malnourishment among mothers and children, including the Thriposha nutritional supplement still in use today;
• Controlling and eradicating malaria;
• Developing the initial plan for the Accelerated Mahaweli (maha-wa-li) program and subsequently helping several development projects under the program;
• Upgrading the Colombo Stock Exchange to international standards;
• Establishing the first DNA laboratory to help in reducing criminal cases;
• Expanding private sector investment in former conflict zones, helping to create more than 30,000 job opportunities.
• Supporting approximately one million Sri Lankans to meet basic needs after conflict and natural disasters.
• And providing more than 50,000 disabled Sri Lankans with life skills and employment readiness training and better access to needed services.

But what matters most and what I am most proud of is when I see USAID’s assistance directly benefitting those in need:

• the displaced person for whom we helped rebuild her home and livelihood;
• the farmer who returns to work with USAID support after losing everything to disaster;
• the person with disabilities who is now back on his feet because of quality rehabilitation;
• or the young single mother in the factory who talks about her dreams for the future because of her new income. 

Today, initiatives worth approximately 10 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($70 million) are helping economic growth across the country and supporting good governance initiatives.

USAID is also addressing post-conflict needs such as,

• disability and counselling support,
• livelihoods and small-scale infrastructure restoration, and
• meeting basic needs of single mothers, female-headed households, youth, ex-combatants, resettling families, and people with disabilities.

2015 was an historic year for this country. The Sri Lankans voted for a political shift that ushered in a sweeping reform agenda and renewed hope for a better future. Seizing opportunities presented by this significant democratic breakthrough, USAID is expanding its support to the government and people of Sri Lanka to achieve historic advancements in human rights, economic equality and stability – pillars the Sri Lankan government’s reconciliation, and the reform and accountability agenda.

Welcoming these positive steps in May 2015, Secretary Kerry announced a $40 million assistance package for Sri Lanka.  

From that amount, USAID is focusing on:

• Strengthening Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions including the election management body, the Parliament, the Auditor General, and other key independent institutions.
• Strengthening the country’s public financial management systems and processes – specifically in the areas of national policy reform, audits, and foreign direct investment.

USAID will do all this and also continue our past efforts to bolster job creation and private sector investment, develop productivity and vocational skills, and help local communities recover from the effects of conflict and disaster.  We also recognize the need for continued focus on strengthening the rule of law and building a robust civil society that can advocate for citizen rights. 

One Sri Lanka story was particularly inspiring to me….

Dakshani, whose name we have changed to protect identity, is in her mid-twenties and lives in one of the conflict-affected northern districts of Sri Lanka. Having lost a limb during the conflict, Dakshani faced many hardships. Then she heard about a USAID-supported vocational training and production center in her neighborhood, which provides jobs to war widows, abandoned women, and women separated from their spouses or families. USAID helped the center build a hostel, provide transportation, and support essential services that play a huge role in helping women like Dakshani overcome their challenges. Dakshani took a job in production and marketing of rice flour and spices and now earns her own money for the first time in her life. 

“She is now enjoying life with a prosthetic leg.  She is happy to work and earn money for her family and for herself. I am very proud of her,” said Dakshani’s mother. Sri Lanka is a country full of Dakshani’s— bright, enterprising people with positive energy and ideas.  In the future, as in the past, USAID will look to support Sri Lankans as they work to make their country and communities vibrant and prosperous.

As we celebrate the U.S. Government’s 60 years of support to Sri Lanka, the United States thanks the people of Sri Lanka for their friendship and cooperation, and looks forward to working together for economic growth, prosperity, and good governance.

Thank you.