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• USAID will provide 20 million dollars as humanitarian aid in addition to 40 million dollars which will be given to purchase fertilizer for one million farmers  
• Change demanded by the people should be implemented  
• US will work with FAO to see that the beneficiaries of the assistance are accurate recipients
• Institutional reforms, strengthening of democracy and cleaning from corruption will bring incredible dignity to Sri Lanka

By Yohan Perera  

USAID Administrator Samatha Power who is in the island on a two-day official visit says that political reforms, accountability and economic reform in Sri Lanka should go hand in hand.    

She made this comment during a media briefing held at the US embassy in Colombo last evening after having discussions wit the Sri Lanka leaders, including President Ranil Wickremesinghe.  

Asked whether a time frame was discussed with Sri Lankan President on political reforms, the US AID administrator said “US officials are not here to characterise Sri Lanka’s time table for reforms but we stress that the government to be transparent with the time table on reforms. Sri Lankan people came out demanding for change not long ago that change should be implemented.”  
“Institutional reforms, strengthening of democracy and cleaning from corruption will bring incredible dignity to Sri Lanka,” she stressed.   

“Sri Lanka should ensure stable borrowing and stable balance of trade and not just economic revival,” she added.  Ms. Power said USAID will provide 20 million dollars as humanitarian aid in addition to 40 million dollars which will be given to purchase fertilizer for one million farmers.   

The total amount pledged by her comes to dollars 60 million.   

Commenting on the dollars 40 million pledged by USAID on Saturday she told US will work with organisations such as FAO to see that the beneficiaries of the assistance are accurate recipients.  

“ We are sorry to see a nation with such dynamic people going through hardship.US will always stand by you,” she also said.     

• Sri Lanka should ensure stable borrowing and stable balance of trade and not just economic revival