US announces $40m agricultural aid to Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: The US announced $40 million in aid to buy fertilizer and other key agricultural inputs in time for the next cultivation season in Sri Lanka.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power, who is visiting Sri Lanka, made the announcement after she met farmer representatives in Ja-Ela outside Colombo.

She said the money will be in addition to the $6 million announced earlier to assist low income farmers.

“The farmers that I just met with described enormous challenges that the economic crisis has placed on them and their families and the whole community. They described phenomena that were unimaginable two, three years ago,” Power said.

She said that according to the World Food Program, more than 6 million people — nearly 30% of Sri Lanka’s population — are currently facing food insecurity and require humanitarian assistance.

Power said the money will help 1 million farmers in time for the next season starting soon.