German Ambassador visits North

German Ambassador Dr. Juergen Morhard paid an official visit to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu recently.

He visited German-funded micro projects and met representatives of the Northern Provincial Council and representatives of civil society.

Ambassador Morhard said, "I met some of the beneficiaries of the projects supported by the Embassy and learnt the impact of the initiatives on day-to-day life.

"We are aware of the challenges faced by communities living in a post-terrorism environment, and hope these micro projects have tangible, long-term benefits."

"I learned of the difficulties particularly faced by women in the North and issues pertaining to the resettled," he said.

In 2013, the German Embassy funded micro projects in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu through four implementation partners.

The Mahashakthy self-help group set up a coconut oil mill to assist woman-headed households in Konavil, the Rural Development Foundation renovated 32 wells in Manthuvi, the World Concern Development Organisation built a playground and provided desks and chairs to 20 pre-schools in Mulliyawalai, the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) built a community hall in Alampil South.

Germany provided over Rs. 7 million in project funding last year.

Ambassador Morhard also visited a dairy farming initiative by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Program of GIZ.

The project aims at improving milk production and income generation for dairy farmers in the Jaffna district. It is jointly implemented by Tetra Laval Food for Development Office, Cargills and GIZ.