World Bank Public Information Centre opens in Colombo

COLOMBO: Minister of Mass Media and Information Anura Priyadharshana Yapa inaugurated the World Bank's Public Information Centre in Colombo on Tuesday.

At the ceremony Peter Harrold, Country Director for the World Bank presented the first copy of the 'Sri Lanka Country Assistance Strategy Progress Report' to Minsiter Priyadharshana Yapa.

The centre located on the second floor of the Bank premises will hold a reference collection of development publications, operational and project documents and provide free access to information on CD-ROMs and online Data bases such as "World Development Indicators," "Global Development Finance" and "e-library" on three computer work stations. The Information centre will be the main dissemination point for information on World Bank activities in Sri Lanka and serve as a public space for dialogue on development issues.

The concept of the Information Centre "fits perfectly" with the Government's vision of a new Sri Lanka said the Minister of Mass Media and Information Anura Priyadharshana Yapa in his address at the event.

Commending the Bank for the "tremendous assistance to Sri Lanka in her journey towards sustainable development," the Minister said he had closely monitored the need to set up a centre of this nature and expressed hope that it will enhance the operational quality and effectiveness of the Bank. The Minister also launched the Public Information website and looked at the Sinhala language version of the Country Assistance Progress Report on the Bank website at www.worldbank.org/lk.

Peter Harrold, Country Director for Sri Lanka, noted that much had happened in Sri Lanka since the original Country Assistance Strategy [CAS] was presented in 2003: the devastating tsunami left behind widespread destruction and loss of life, the peace process had stalled and is now at last revived, and the poverty reduction strategy of the country had undergone a significant realignment.

"Despite all these changes, the core CAS themes of supporting peace, growth and equity remain as valid as ever, and are perfectly in line with the priorities of the Government," he said. "Peace is the foundation for sustainable poverty reduction; growth needs to rise in order to make a real dent on poverty, and equity must be addressed so that the poor in the more distant regions of Sri Lanka can also participate in the growth process, and no longer be left behind."

Copies of the Sri Lanka Country Assistance Strategy Progress Report is available free of charge at the Public Information Centre at World Bank Office, Level 2, 73/5 Galle Road will be open from Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. Contact: Dilinika Peiris, Public Information Assistant, [email protected]; Tel: 5561325.