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Sri Lanka

Norwegian People's Aid phases out in Sri Lanka

The Norwegian People's Aid Secretary General, Petter Eide, has announced the planned phase out of NPA from Sri Lanka during 2009. This voluntary decision for withdrawal was taken by the NPA Head Office earlier this year as the organisation's largest projects in the country come to an end.

NPA's major development project in the Eastern Province is now closing with the completion of 640 houses and associated water and sanitation facilities, community infrastructure and livelihoods support in the district of Ampara.

The Mine Action Programme, under the auspices of the National Steering Committee for Mine Action under the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development, has been suspended for almost one year following challenges to implementation imposed by the ongoing hostilities in the North. A decision to formally close this programme has now been taken. Since the initiation of the Mine Action Programme in Sri Lanka, NPA supported the removal and destruction of more than 30,000 anti-personnel mines, 9500 unexploded ordnance and clearance of 18 million square meters of land.

In addition to the above-mentioned activities, NPA in partnership with the UN, has been engaged in relief and recovery projects targeting IDPs, returnees and host communities since 2006, working with over 100 local implementing partners on approximately 250 projects across 10 districts.

NPA's priority for 2009 is to finalise ongoing activities, ensuring a smooth handover and closure process with a final phase out to take place in mid-2009.