The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is expanding its volunteer program which has rendered a yeoman service for the well-being of all communities in Sri Lanka. JICA is the executing agency of Japan’s Bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) program.
JICA, the world’s biggest bilateral aid agency, works in over 150 countries and regions in accordance with its vision of “Leading the World With Trust”. JICA supports the resolution of development issues in all developing countries. In Sri Lanka, Japan has been providing financial and technical assistance since 1954 and is today one of the country’s largest bilateral donors. On behalf of the people and the Government of Japan, JICA contributes towards the improvement of the lives of people everywhere in Sri Lanka.
The JICA Volunteer Program commenced in Sri Lanka following the exchange of notes between the Government of Japan and Sri Lanka on 15th May 1980. Since 1981, over 1,173 JICA volunteers have been dispatched to work in Sri Lanka, and these volunteers have served in more than 100 different fields of service. The immense support and assistance provided by the Sri Lankan authorities and relevant host organizations has always played a major role in ensuring the unprecedented success of the JICA volunteer program.
Volunteers conduct their activities in the local languages (Sinhala or Tamil), depending on the region they work in. Most of them are also fluent in English. Although a large majority of JICA volunteers primarily worked in Sinhala speaking areas, with the dawn of peace in the country, JICA commenced assigning its volunteers to the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well. This commenced in 2012, and it was the first time in 25 years that JICA volunteers were sent to former war-torn regions.
A more comprehensive article on the activities of JICA volunteers will be published in the Sunday Observer next week.
