Seminar on transport and logistics needs

Construction Chamber for reawakening North and East:

The civil war experienced over the last 30 years has left desolation in its wake resulting in loss of lives, human sufferings, and mass-displacement of people while bringing the economy virtually to its knees, not to mention the destruction caused to the environment.

The industrial apparatus has broken down. Social fabric has been torn to shreds and infrastructure networks including transport and logistical infrastructure have been wiped out. Furthermore, the lack of capacity of the islands institutions makes it difficult to rapidly implement conventional long-term development programs of which transport and logistical systems requirements is a key focus area.

The transition from war to peace is a complex process involving protection of the affected population, re-integrating displaced populations and refugees and rebuilding damaged infrastructure through an accelerated infrastructure development program.

A functional and coherently networked transport system is an essential requirement for implementing a successful rehabilitation and reconstruction program.

The smooth movement of manpower, machinery and materials to the affected regions is essential to implement the reconstruction program. People need to be able to attend schools, training centres, and places of worship and commute to and from places of work. The transport of goods and services to and from the affected provinces is paramount to reviving regional economies.

Investments in infrastructure development and new businesses need to be fostered in order to generate employment, facilitate livelihood and regional economic development. The movement of freight and container traffic inclusive of warehousing and transit points needs to be organized and streamlined. Tourism should be promoted in the affected regions in order to generate foreign exchange and improve the international image of the nation.

Therefore it is clearly evident from the above needs that transport and logistics would form the backbone of the infrastructure development programme and regional economic development as a whole. Quality transport infrastructure and inter-modal connectivity of road, rail, sea and air transport networks and logistical infrastructure is essential in this regard.

The ADB, World Bank and JICA have identified the road sector as a core area earmarked for funding in Sri Lanka with ADB pledging a sum of USD 300 million over the next 3 years. This is a justification of the importance of transport infrastructure in the overall development context.

The Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) is the Apex Body representing every stakeholder of the domestic construction industry and is founded by all institutions and associations of construction professionals.

In hosting a seminar on the subject of 'Reawakening of the Northern and the Eastern Provinces - Transport and Logistical Needs', CCI expects to create awareness among relevant stakeholders on the importance of transport and logistics in reviving regional economies in the North and the East through timely and organized movement of people, goods and services between the provinces and to and from the rest of the island.

The seminar will bring together some of the most eminent personalities engaged in the fields of transport and logistics who are expected to outline the present status of the transport networks in the North and East and the Government's plans for improvements and developments to these networks and the resultant opportunities and challenges.