Trump’s America First Policy hits NGO projects worth Rs.21 billion in Sri Lanka: Official

• Around 100 NGOs registered with the NGO Secretariat are funded by USAID

By Kelum Bandara  

After the new U.S. administration paused foreign aid under President Donald Trump’s America First foreign policy , NGO- operated projects worth Rs.21 billion have come to a standstill in Sri Lanka in addition to leaving their employees in the lurch, an official said.  

The U.S. is spending roughly US $40 billion in foreign aid annually. The U.S. State Department imposed a pause on such funding to evaluate programs in line with the policy of the new government.   

Director General of the National NGO Secretariat Sanjeewa Wimalagunaratne told Daily Mirror that the projects worth Rs.21 billion which were under execution by organizations registered with him had come to a halt due to lack of funding.  

“These NGOs were funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). They were carrying out works in fields such as de- mining, prevention of human trafficking, fighting child hunger and democratic reforms,” he said.  

He said around 100 NGOs registered with the NGO Secretariat are funded by USAID.The Trump administration urged USAID workers to join the effort to transform how Washington allocates aid around the world in line with Trump’s “America First” policy.