USAID pledges US$60 Mn for SL

Chief of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday announced a $60 million aid package for Sri Lanka.Addressing the media at the US Embassy, in Colombo, USAID head Samantha Power said it would provide $40 million for fertiliser imports and $20 million for humanitarian needs to tackle the country’s deep financial crisis.Power said: “I have come to convey that the United States stands with you during this unparalleled crisis.”

In a meeting held earlier in the day, Power told President Ranil Wickremesighe that political reform agenda and the economic agenda go hand in hand.She said that the United States is trying to engage the business community to look at Sri Lanka now and to see the opportunities that exist in Sri Lanka.

“But compared to the challenges you face, that is very, very small and very modest. But we want to use our convening power to be catalytic as best we can, at the international financial institutions, with the private sector, with other countries that themselves are looking anew at Sri Lanka and thinking where to go,” she said.

She also highlighted Sri Lanka’s vibrant private sector and said measures should be taken to unleash the potential of the private sector.

“You have such an incredible private sector, such entrepreneurship. But the government, over so many years has largely stood in the way of unlocking that potential instead of fueling it. Mangala used to say, as you know, government has no business running business. And you know what was done in the telecom sector? If that could be done in other sectors in an expeditious and transparent way, to unlock the potential of your people, it would be incredible,” reported the President’s Media Division quoting the Administrator, and Former US Ambassador to the UN.

Power said she conveys on behalf of President Biden that the stand with Sri Lanka, during her meeting with President Wickremesinghe.

“We certainly are here to come together with you and to help take advantage of this rare window of opportunity. Also, for you to be able to make the kinds of changes that have been proposed for so long,” she added.