U.S. Ambassador opens two schools rehabilitated by U.S. Government in Trincomalee District

November, 2009: The U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ms. Patricia A. Butenis, officially opened two schools in Mutur. The schools were rebuilt by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the development agency of the U.S. Government, as part of its program to help former conflict-affected communities return to normalcy as quickly as possible.

Ambassador Butenis presided over the ceremonial openings of Amman Nagar and Arafa Nagar Schools in Trincomalee District, two of five schools rehabilitated by USAID with funding from the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM). In addition to the five schools in Trincomalee, two schools and one hospital were also rehabilitated in the Batticaloa District. (More)

US Ambassador Launches New Ice Cream Project

November 9, 2009: The U.S. Ambassador, Patricia A. Butenis, officially opened a new ice cream plant in Batticaloa District as part of a dairy revitalization project that will increase the incomes of 4,000 dairy farmers and create new jobs in the former conflict-affected area.
The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the development agency of the U.S. Government. USAID provided $3.75 million to initiate the project, leveraging funding from Land O’Lakes, a leading U.S. dairy producer, and CIC Agribusiness, a major Sri Lankan agricultural company. (More)

U.S. Government helps former fighters gain a new start in the East

October 30, 2009: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officially launched a new program to help former fighters in the East reintegrate into society, providing equipment and supplies to start their own small businesses. The Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillaiyan, participated in the event in Batticaloa.

USAID, the development agency of the U.S. Government, is funding the two-year pilot project to facilitate the reintegration of 1000 former fighters in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts. The project, implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is part of USAID’s larger efforts to increase human security and stability in the Eastern Province by working with local communities as well as returning ex-combatants. (More)

Awards Ceremony "Learn about America" Essay Competition

October19, 2009: The third batch of winners of the "Learn About America" Essay Competition held in the Junior Observer and conducted by the American Center received their awards, at the American Center auditorium The winners for May and June 2009 were awarded at this event. U. S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis graced the occasion and presented the awards to the winners. While addressing the gathering Ambassador praised the Junior Observer for its contribution in helping children to improve their literary skills. (More)

Winner Chosen in U.S. Embassy Sculpture Competition

October 29, 2009: Ms. Namal Jayasinghe has won the sculpture competition organized by the U. S. Embassy to mark 60 years of the establishment of the American Center in Colombo. The new Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy, Ms. Valerie Fowler, presented Ms. Jayasinghe with a cash prize of Rs100,000 and a certificate. The winning sculpture shows a high degree of craftsmanship and expresses the longstanding friendship between the two countries by cleverly intertwining the two flags in an arrangement that is solid but also dynamic. It will be permanently displayed at the American Center for public viewing.

U.S. Embassy Statement on IDP Returns

Colombo, October 28, 2009: The United States welcomes the Government of Sri Lanka’s acceleration of the voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their villages. We are encouraged by the Government’s announcement that it intends in the next few weeks to facilitate the voluntary return of over 40,000 of the approximately 250,000 IDPs in the camps, and we understand that thousands have already been released. We will continue to closely monitor the situation.

The United States firmly believes that the rapid release and voluntary return of all IDPs is a critical element of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka. The United States is supporting the voluntary returns process by providing $6.6 million to international demining organizations for humanitarian demining assistance, $4 million to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist returnees as they arrive to their homes, and contributions to the World Food Program for the provision of six-months’ dry rations to returning families.

We will look for additional ways to support the Government of Sri Lanka in this critical effort. During the last two years, the U.S. has contributed over $87 million in humanitarian assistance, including funding that has provided over seven million meals for Sri Lankans living in IDP camps.

2009 Report on International Religious Freedom

The U.S. State Department's annual report on world-wide religious freedom, released Monday, October 26th 2009.

The International Religious Freedom report is submitted to Congress annually by the Department of State in compliance with Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. This report supplements the most recent Human Rights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters involving international religious freedom. It includes individual country chapters on the status of religious freedom worldwide.

• Link to the full report
• Chapter on Sri Lanka
• Remarks by Secretary Clinton