Catalyst in re-building Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will be the cynosure of a multitude of eyes worldwide as the 120-member Development Forum, focusing on post-tsunami rebuilding in this country, begins in Kandy today. As was evident at the height of the tsunami crisis, the conscience of the world has been profoundly shaken by this major national catastrophe and the deliberation getting under way today are likely to prove a major catalyst in the materialization of the will of Lanka's major donor countries, to help us on a sustained basis to overcome the adverse currants the tsunami has triggered off.

The donor community, however, is unlikely to be constantly led by its emotions and it will be up to the Lankan State to prove its case to the world outside for sustained assistance and cooperation in the major challenge of rebuilding Sri Lanka.

Given the proportions of the damage suffered by this country, our aid-givers are unlikely to be parsimonious, but the Lankan Government would need to clearly establish that the financial and material assistance flowing into the country would be effectively and well used. Some very relevant issues have been raised by the World Bank in this regard and the Lankan Government would do well to address its mind to them in the days ahead. The need - for instance - for a closely State coordinated rebuilding effort shouldn't go unaddressed. Meanwhile, TAFREN chief Mano Tittawella, making his address at the Private Sector Summit on Post-Tsunami Reconstruction in the US, is on record that "the successful completion of the Post-Tsunami Action Plan would not only restore infrastructure and livelihoods to the affected people, but would also serve as a catalyst in moving the peace process forward." Our hope is that this would really be so.

Tittawella went on to say that President Kumaratunga is committed to implementing the joint mechanism proposal for rebuilding the North-East and this sentiment is bound to have the approval of not only the majority of the people of this country, but also that of the majority of our donor states. There is no doubt that such a mechanism would have the effect of building bridges among all stakeholders to our conflict.

However, there is no alternative to sustained, hard work on the part of the State from now on in the country re-building effort. It has been estimated that we require some Dollars 2 billion over the next couple of years or so for the reconstruction and rebuilding process and this a lot of money which would compel our aid donors to be extra vigilant on how effectively the incoming funds are being spent by the Lankan State.

Accordingly, Sri Lanka would need to give a good account of itself in the days ahead and we call for a vibrant country re-building effort on the part of all relevant sections.

As the saying goes, it is easier to be critical than to be correct but it is vitally important that we show positive results "on the ground", in this re-building exercise. Consequently, both the rulers and the ruled of Sri Lanka would need to go the extra mile - in fact, more than the extra mile - to put Sri Lanka on its feet once again. There is simply no alternative to hard, sustained work on the part of all of us. Besides, we need to be disciplined and spirited.