The US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has awarded US $1.5 million to the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement to support local community leaders in developing emergency response and mitigation strategies in disaster-prone areas across Sri Lanka. 

The new funding will strengthen community resilience and improve coordination between local stakeholders and international relief agencies over two years, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo said in a release.

“For more than three decades, the U.S. Government and the American people have provided disaster assistance to Sri Lanka. Those initiatives saved lives, alleviated suffering, and reduced the social and economic impact of disasters, and I am proud to say that the United States remains committed to strengthening Sri Lanka’s disaster management capabilities over the coming years,” said U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz.

Specific activities under the grant to Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement will focus on community-led disaster mitigation activities, disaster management training, and public awareness campaigns on disaster risks.

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