World Bank lauds Lanka’s development strategy
COLOMBO: The World Bank’s new Vice President for South Asia, Isabel
Guerrero, wrapped up her first visit to Sri Lanka with a strong
re-affirmation of her institution’s commitment to expand economic
opportunities for all Sri Lankans and to reach those excluded by poverty
and conflict.
“Sri Lanka clearly has so much potential which is being held back by
conflict,” said Guerrero. “I was really impressed to see that our new
strategy to assist the nation’s development has broad-based support
built on consultations we carried out across the island.
“It is so important for all Sri Lankans to have a stake in the
island’s growth.
“The Country Assistance Strategy proposes US$900 million in lending
to Sri Lanka over the next four years. It focuses on improving
connectivity through infrastructure, especially roads and irrigation, to
spread economic opportunity.
Guerrero noted Sri Lanka’s achievements in fighting poverty, adding
that the strategy supports the expansion of that achievement in poor and
underserved areas, including the Northern and Eastern parts of the
country.
During her visit, Guerrero, who until June was the World Bank’s
director in charge of the World Bank’s large India program, met with
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his advisors, with several members of
the Cabinet, with the Governor of the Central Bank, Nivard Cabraal, and
with officials from the Finance Ministry.
She also met donors to the country’s development program and heard
from civil society and the private sector about the challenges they
face. One critical aspect of the Bank’s assistance strategy is to help
Sri Lanka improve its investment climate and boost its competitiveness
to attract greater private sector investment.
“It is extremely difficult to work in areas affected by conflict but
we have succeeded in part, for example, with the rehabilitation of
irrigation infrastructure that has enabled some farmers in these areas
to return to the land,” said Guerrero.
The Bank will not shy away from the huge needs of Sri Lankans in
these areas, she said. Key to this was the Bank’s emphasis on enhancing
the quality of services and the accountability for those services in
areas like education, health, and social safety nets.
The North and the East of the country have been most severely
affected by the last quarter century of fighting and displacements. The
Bank strategy emphasizes efforts to improve access to public services
and enhance livelihood opportunities in conflict affected areas, said
Guerrero.
The Bank will also make every effort to minimize risks of
inadvertently fuel tensions through inclusive consultations and genuine
grievance mechanisms. Sensitivity to the causes of conflict is critical.
For example, support to education focused on English as a link
language working towards mixed Tamil-Sinhala schooling which could bring
communities closer together. Continuing to work on projects driven by
communities themselves and by local governments is another way to ensure
that the needs of the people are addressed directly.
Since becoming World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region in
July, Guerrero has also visited Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal
and Pakistan. |