§ Mr. John Pageasked the Lord Privy Seal how much aid has been given to Sri Lanka annually over the last four years ; and how much of this aid has been distributed on projects in Tamil areas.
§ Mr. Neil Marten: The following British aid has been given to Sri Lanka during the last four years :
£'000 1976 5,455 1977 3,989 1978 8,318 1979 12,242 Two major projects, with the aim of modernising five ancient reservoirs and investigating the land and water resources of the North West dry zone, are sited partly in the Northern province in which Tamils are a majority of the population. Our programme of economic aid to Sri 82W Lanka is intended to improve the economy of the country as a whole, however, and all sections of the population may therefore be expected to benefit.