US President Joe Biden announced US$20 million in “additional assistance to strengthen food security in Sri Lanka” which will reportedly feed over 800,000 children, as Colombo desperately looks for international assistance in the midst of its economic crisis.
In addition to helping fund a school nutrition program for the 800,000 children, the aid will also reportedly provide food vouchers for over 27,000 pregnant and lactating women over the next 15 months and support 30,000 farmers “through the contribution of agricultural assistance and cash in order to increase food production”.
“President Biden’s announcement of $20 million in additional assistance to Sri Lanka demonstrates the United States’ ongoing commitment to food security, public health, and the economic well-being of all Sri Lankan people,” said US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung.
“The United States will continue to support Sri Lankan efforts to promote economic stability and will ensure this assistance reaches the communities – and children – who need it most.”
The announcement comes the day after a high-level US delegation met with Sri Lanka’s embattled and war crimes accused president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Under his tenure, Sri Lanka has been plunged into the worst economic crisis in living history.
