At the signing ceremony of Grant Contracts regarding the Building Causeway in Monaragala and the Intermediate Mental Healthcare Unit in Trincomalee

Ven (Venerable). Nagolle Nandarathana Thero, President, Dimuthu Community Development Society, /
Dr. Jayan Mendis, Senior Council Member, Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, /
members of media, /

Ladies and Gentlemen
 
Good morning.
It is my great pleasure to sign the grant contracts today to extend assistance to the two projects through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, also known as ‘GGP’ which aims at supporting grassroots-level development in Sri Lanka.
 
First, “The Project for Constructing a Causeway in Buttala, Monaragala District” will support the Dimuthu Community Development Society to build a causeway in the Buttala District to ensure that over 2,500 people access main livelihood institutions such as schools, hospitals and markets in an easier and safer way. Currently, the residents have to cross by foot a river which flows between their village and a main road, although it is not safe to walk on the slippery river bed, because otherwise, they have to make a long detour. When the river water level is too high with strong currents, they are compelled to use unpaved roads and it is difficult to travel especially during the rainy season. With the proposed causeway, safer and shorter access to the main road will be assured for the villagers including children, which will contribute to improving their livelihood and safety.
 
Second, “The Project for Constructing Psychiatry Unit of Divisional Hospital, Nilaveli, Trincomalee District” will support the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists to build a new intermediate mental healthcare unit at the Nilaveli Divisional Hospital. At present, there is no facility which offers intermediate rehabilitation care for patients with mental illnesses in the Trincomalee district and therefore most patients who need longer treatment have no choice but to get treatment at home which is insufficient in most cases. The new unit which has 8 individual patient rooms will make it possible for them to receive proper inpatient rehabilitation treatment, which contribute to improving the health and hygiene environment of the area. The project facilitates the mental health policy of the Sri Lankan Government which stresses the need for developing a broad range of rehabilitation and psychosocial care services at the district level.
 
Assisting vulnerable communities especially in rural areas is one of the main focus areas of Japanese assistance towards Sri Lanka, and I am very glad to know that these two projects have been initiated by organizations which actively commit to improving livelihood in both Buttala and Trincomalee districts. I have realized that in Sri Lanka there are plenty of local groups which actively work at grassroots level for the betterment of the quality of life of their community people. We are keen to continue working with them to attain their goal.
 
Last but not least, I would like to express my deepest respect to the staff of both the Dimuthu Community Development Society and the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists for their day-to-day efforts to uplift the daily life and livelihood of the communities.
 
I look forward to the successful completion of these projects, leading to the well-being of the people in those districts. I also hope that it will contribute to further enhancing the longstanding friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka.
 
Thank you very much.