Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Saturday Sep 21, 2024
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Ambassador Cindy McCain
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The United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome, Ambassador Cindy McCain will arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow for a four-day official visit.
The US Embassy in Colombo said her visit will highlight the US food assistance programs in Sri Lanka and reinforce their commitment and lasting partnership with the country.
In addition to meeting with senior Government officials and aid organisations in Colombo, Ambassador McCain will join US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung to travel to Central Province and visit schools, agricultural research facilities, and community organisations as well as to meet with recipients and implementers of relief provided through US Government-funded humanitarian assistance programs.
The US is the single largest country donor to the three UN food and agriculture agencies – the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Program (WFP).
The US-funded UN projects showcase how the US Government, the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies, and the Government of Sri Lanka collaborate to reduce food insecurity and advance humanitarian relief, livelihood protection, and agriculture-led economic growth, especially at this critical time of increased global hunger.
The US Embassy also said the US has provided partnership and assistance to the people and the Government of Sri Lanka for over 70 years. The US has provided over $ 2 billion (around Rs. 720 billion) in development assistance to Sri Lanka since 1956.
Since June, Ambassador Chung has overseen the announcement of nearly $ 240 million in new US Government assistance to Sri Lanka, including US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power’s September announcements.
Earlier this week USAID committed to providing an estimated $ 65 million (over Rs. 23 billion) in assistance to Sri Lanka over five years. This funding was in addition to over $ 60 million (Rs. 21 billion) of new humanitarian and fertiliser assistance that Administrator Power announced last week in response to the current economic and political crises in Sri Lanka.
