Mangala sets the record straight

Media and Information Minister Mangala Samaraweera has written to the Editor of the UK's Daily Telegraph setting out the true position with regard to tsunami aid distribution in Sri Lanka on which according to Minister two grossly exaggerated and one sided reports had been carried by the publication concerned. The Minister's letter to the Editor states:

"We write with reference to the two articles on Sri Lanka in your journal published on the 25th of May. Your reporter Mr. Peter Foster has launched a scathing attack on the Sri Lankan Government accusing it of inaction and bureaucracy.

The two grossly exaggerated reports are skewed and pathetically one-sided. The style adopted by your reporter is extremely harmful to the country and our people who were affected by the disaster. They appear to have been written with malicious intent.

Despite the fact that Sri Lanka never had to cope with a disaster of this magnitude ever in the long history of our country the Government managed to bring the situation well under control within 48 hours of the calamity.

It is unfortunate that your reporter and the Daily Telegraph have obviously not understood the magnitude of the disaster and the duty of a responsible Government in protecting its people from future calamities of this nature. You have failed to mention that not a single person died of disease, epidemics or hunger, proving wrong the lofty western forecasts.

Over 100 dignitaries and several world leaders, including the UN Secretary General, President of the World Bank and Presidents George Bush Senior and Bill Clinton who visited Sri Lanka since the December 26 disaster have commended the Government for its well coordinated efforts to rebuild the lives of our people.

On the day your article was published President Bill Clinton was in Sri Lanka on his second visit since the tsunami disaster. President Clinton reiterated his comments and commended the progress.

We give below in brief the relief measures undertaken by the Government since the 26th of December.

As per assessments the tsunami displaced 119,900 families. These families were provided with their basic needs. This will continue until they are relocated in permanent houses and their livelihoods restored.

The immediate measures taken to restore normalcy.

* Food, drinking water and clothes and even a radio receiver

* Medicine and personnel for healthcare facilities

* Sanitary facilities

* Final rites administered and the dead buried within one week

* Monetary compensation to bereaved families (at Rs. 15,000 to each lost loved one)

* Initial resettlement allowance (Rs. 2,500 per family)

* Immediate issue of birth certificates, IDs and death certificates

* Distribution of food was structured; a food ration card for each victim was issued. Every week 'food baskets' worth Rs. 375 each are issued to each victim via the Government's Co-operative shops. (A program supported by the WFP)

* Monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 per family is being paid from January, 2005 through two State-owned Banks. This can be verified directly from the World Bank.

* A bank account has been opened for one member of every affected family. A vast number of them have never possessed a bank account before. All grants due to the victims have been credited to these individual accounts. This arrangement is to ensure the victimized use the monies prudently as when they require them.

* Tariff concessions were afforded to the affected for electricity, water and telephones.

* Books and clothing were issued to school children.

Government grants of Rs. 250,000 and 100,000 were given for completely damaged and partially damaged houses out side the buffer zone. This program is being implemented under World Bank agreed guidelines.

All grants issued through banks to nearly 200,000 people. Those living outside the buffer zone will be given a housing unit free.

Each unit will be a minimum of 500 sq feet with water supply, electricity and sewerage estimated cost is US$ 5,000 per unit.

The Government provides the land free of charge, undertakes the engineering and architectural work and survey plans.

30,000 transitionary housing units have already been built.

Of the total requirement of 49,218 houses, 40,096 houses have been assigned to donors for building. Agreements for 35,901 houses have been signed and land has been allocated.

1,659 houses are now under construction. 16,246 to be completed by end of June, 2005. 23,846 will be completed by mid July, 2005.

All these houses are built by the Government and the private sector using local and international donor assistance.

These details would have been available to your Mr. Peter Foster had he contacted the Ministries of Social Services or Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. He could have also contacted officials of the Special Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN)

We are surprised a newspaper of your standing did not think it appropriate to obtain the views of any responsible State official. We hope a newspaper of your reputation will in future follow the basic tenets of journalism and report both sides of a story.

I trust you will publish this response in full in your esteemed journal giving it the prominence you gave the two articles in question."