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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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$ 55 m for tsunami relief aid by Rohan Mathes Treasury and Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera said the government has received US$ 30 million from the World Bank (WB) and US$ 25 million from the Japanese Government to date, for tsunami reconstruction relief aid in response to a journalist's query at a press conference on Thursday at the Finance Ministry auditorium on the pledges already converted into commitments, from the US$ two billion pledged by the donor community. He said that this was a reconstruction program ranging over three to four years, and as per the needs assessment they required around US$ two billion. The WB funded the livelihood program and housing grant for the affected parties. "The WB released US$ 30 million and the Japanese Government released US$ 25 million of US$ 80 million pledged. We expect to receive US$ 150 to 200 million as we proceed, before the end of the year", he said. Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said that initially, the government had taken decisions promptly and provided emergency relief payments from the Consolidated Fund in keeping with the assurances given by the donor partners. Later they negotiated with the donor partners who re-imbursed these funds. |
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