Business for Peace Alliance commends P-TOMS

SRILANKAFIRST together with the Business for Peace Alliance (BPA) yesterday expressed its support to the Government's proposed Post-Tsunami Operating Management Structure (P-TOMS).

SriLankaFirst and the BPA welcome the proposed Joint Mechanism as it envisions a fair and equitable mechanism for the disbursement of much needed post-tsunami aid pledged by donors for the North and East regions, the two organisations said in a news release.

It said: "The fair and equitable distribution of aid can only be made possible through an inclusive mechanism such as the Tsunami Relief Board which is representative of all the parties operating in these areas.

Confined to only a two Km coastal strip of land across the six affected regions in the North and East for a limited period of one year, Sri Lanka First and the BPA believes the proposed structure would fast track the reconstruction and rebuilding of the devastated areas.

An inclusive administrative arrangement that brings all the parties together in a united effort can only strengthen the peace process.

Therefore the Business collective and the BPA calls upon the government to implement the Post-Tsunami Operating Management Structure without delay." Sri Lanka First is an apolitical initiative formed by respected Sri Lankan business leaders in September 2001 after the devastating attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport. Sri Lanka First sought to give the impetus of the Business Community to the process of bringing about peace in Sri Lanka.

The rallying cry of Sri Lanka First was that the country's interest should come first - and therefore that political leaders should put aside their differences and come together in seeking a permanent settlement in the north-east conflict.

The BPA is an island wide grouping of Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry, functioning to practice post conflict reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Its mission is building peace through re-linking regions long separated by conflict.