Road to recovery: a head-turner

Dr. Mathu H. LIYANAGE

Sri Lanka’s outline of the road to recovery on political, civil and socio-economic fronts after a long drawn-out conflict is well earmarked with clear signposts by the wayside.

Japan rose to become one of the greatest economic powers in the world on the ashes of Hiroshima, the capital of Hiroshima prefecture, South Honshu Island, which became the target for the first atomic bomb ever dropped by the Americans during World War II, because of its importance as a centre of military and supply bases, shipyards and industrial plants. 150,000 people were killed or wounded and 75 percent of the buildings were destroyed.

Nagasaki, the Capital of Nagasaki prefecture, western Kyushu, became the target of the second atomic bomb dropped just after three days. Over 75,000 people were killed or wounded and one-third of the buildings were destroyed.

If history repeats itself, Sri Lanka’s rise to similar heights at least in the South Asia region under the well designed political and economic plan of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is neither surprising, incredible nor beyond comprehension.

It was the Japan-Sri Lanka Business Cooperation Community Chairman Sumitaka Fujitha who said, at the 15th joint meeting of the Committee Sri Lanka-Japan, and Japan-Sri Lanka Business Committee held recently in Colombo, that Sri Lanka had the potential to be the manufacturing base in the South Asian Region because of the advantages of low cost production, high competition and a literate work force in comparison to other countries in the region.

He was so confident about the recovery of Sri Lanka after the cessation of the 30-year old catastrophic civil war, its resurrection and the current peaceful environment that he invited Japanese entrepreneurs and others across the world to invest in Sri Lanka.

These sentiments were reinforced by the Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi who called for Japanese investments in Sri Lanka, especially in the North and East.

The industrial boom in the North and East accelerated by the Government’s well-thought out plans has also attracted the attention of both Singapore and Chinese business sectors for investment in Sri Lanka according to the 18-member delegation of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Industry which met with the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka recently.

Besides, they have jointly decided to develop the North and East further with more energy plants and fishing accessories due to the increasing need for them consequent on the rapid economic development in the region.

The flow of capital to the economy as a result of the recent reduction of the interest rate by the Central Bank and the expected follow-on by State banks is bound to increase economic activities throughout the country, reducing the cost of production of exports and the level of employment. These changes and improvements may cause a chain-effect on industries to boost the economy appreciably.

With most of the villages in the North gradually coming back to normal after clearing land mines, setting up infrastructure and repairing or rebuilding dwelling houses, and the internally displaced persons going back to their villages, the number of persons now in the camps has been reduced to about 130,000. Government’s valiant efforts may soon see the balance number diminishing fast.

UN’s Under-Secretary John Holmes, who toured Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mannar and IDP settlements recently had expressed his satisfaction at the progress that had been made since his last visit. He had, in fact, stated that people were ‘adjusting to peace.’ He had been encouraged and impressed by the rapid resettlement of IDPs that was in progress.

The members of the Tamil National Alliance who visited the IDP welfare centres had likewise expressed their satisfaction at the progress made, having satisfied themselves with the improved living conditions in the centres and the reduced numbers.

A 12-member delegation representing the Federation of Malaysian-Sri Lankan Organizations (FOMSO) who visited the welfare centres in Vavuniya and Mannar recently was impressed by the conditions prevailing in the centres.

Though the situation in the welfare centres was a bit tough, the Government was providing the best conditions possible according to the delegates. They had emphasized that the situation was far better than what had been presented by various media reports.

This rapid recovery within a matter of six months from the cessation of hostilities, and considering the magnitude of the devastation and the 300,000 internally displaced persons on their hands, no other country could have ever equalled the performance of the government in so short a period of time.

This magnanimous recovery was made possible by the diligent mapping out of the strategy, providing resources and manpower drawn from the armed services and the police, dedicated NGOs, provincial councillors, public and volunteer workers, assistance offered by overseas countries both financially and materially and, above all, the firm determination of the government to meet the set targets on the dates fixed as far as possible.