Associated Press , Mon 16th May 13:35GMT. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - The United States will build or repair 100 recreational areas for children along Sri Lanka's tsunami-affected coastal belt, to help the young recover from the trauma, the embassy said Monday.

The project will be partly funded by the Bush-Clinton Houston Tsunami Relief Fund, headed by former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and will be implemented across 13 districts through the U.S. Agency for International Development.

``It is well documented by psychologists that the ability to play has a significant role in a child's recovery from traumatic experience while promoting good health,'' an embassy statement quoted Carol Becker, USAID Mission Director as saying.

``With such extensive damage to the coastal landscape here, we felt it crucial to restore some areas where kids can be kids. Following their visit here, presidents Bush and Clinton agreed.''

A team under the U.S. National Recreation & Park Association has had talks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse on the project and examined whether equipment available in the country meets international safety standards.

More than 31,000 Sri Lankans were killed in the Dec. 26 Indian Ocean tsunami and about 1 million people were left homeless. About 1,000 children were orphaned by the disaster and another 3,200 lost one parent.