The U.S. Embassy this week inaugurated four projects in Batticaloa District aimed at improving the health and vocational skills of local residents.

These initiatives funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) include the donation of cardiac patient monitoring equipment and renovation of the water-sanitation system at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, provision of processing equipment and training for three inter-ethnic women's cashew cooperatives, improvements to a Sarvodaya training center and the Manchanthoduwan Technical College, both of which cater to Muslim and Tamil youth.

Together these four projects, which represent approximately $138,000 of support and assistance from the United States, are expected to benefit more than 1 million Sri Lankans in the East.

"These projects are tangible reminders of the benefits of the peace process and could only have been made possible by the absence of war," said Mr. Chris J. Long, Information Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, who attended formal opening ceremonies for the four projects on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 23-24. "Their value lies not only in the equipment or services provided, but in, the understanding and trust developed among different communities."

USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) supports efforts to end the long-standing conflict in Sri Lanka by partnering with local groups to demonstrate the benefits of peace; increase the exchange of accurate, balanced information on peace-related issues; and reduce or prevent incidents of violence in conflict-prone communities. Since the OTI program began in March 2003, USAID has invested US$ 4.78 million in support of more than 210 local initiatives in the north, south, and east of Sri Lanka.