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Translating respite into rewards

In further proof of the Government's intention of sustaining and heightening the peace process, Finance Minister K.N. Choksy has requested the President of the Manila - based Asian Development Bank, Tadao Chino, for more aid and assistance for the development of infrastructure facilities in Sri Lanka's North-East. These will include roads, hospitals and schools; material assets which would enhance the people's quality of living and improve their productivity and well being.

When speaking of a "peace dividend" it is such amenities and productive assets that knowledge observers usually have in mind although the humanisation of the Lankan body-politic, an end to bloodshed and violence and sustainable, equable development are part of the substantial, positive fallout from the peace process and have to be considered its principal pluses.

An added pointer to the gathering international backing for the Lankan peace process was the comment attributed to the ADB President that he was personally satisfied with the progress registered by the development programs launched by the Government in the North-East. If the peace process is to be set on an irreversible path the current respite from war and destruction has to be translated into, among other things, schools hospitals, roads, houses factories, workplaces, community centres, bridges, transport facilities and the like. From the point of view of the ordinary people, these would be among the main tangible benefits of peace.

The Government needs to ensure that these material benefits accrue to the people, to bring about the further consolidation of the peace process. Besides it is tangible, verifiable progress in this sphere which would guarantee firm international backing for the peace process. There is a fund of goodwill among the international community for the peace process but solid evidence should be forthcoming that the peace effort is being relentlessly persisted with and that foreign funds are being effectively used.

While looking to the material betterment of the people the State should be particularly sensitive to the emotional and spiritual needs of those who have been affected by war. Refugee centres should be things of the past and these unfortunate persons shouldn't be only resettled but rehabilitated.

The latter task is a complex one which calls for a sound assessment of the most vital needs of the human being, inducing the need for a right and rewarding livelihood. Accordingly, we need a range of expertise to deal with the chores the peace process has brought to the surface. By attending to these tasks readily and insightfully, more international goodwill could be generated towards Sri Lanka.

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