Business leader deplores Darusman Report

Ravi LADDUWAHETTY

A frontline business leader yesterday implored the country's private sector to rally round to protest against the contents of the Darusman Panel Report on accountability issues claiming that Sri Lanka could not have any distractions at this stage.

It is the private sector which benefited immensely from the ending of hostilities with the revival of tourism, investment opportunities and investor confidence along with the development of equity markets, immediate past president of the umbrella trade chamber-the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Sri Lanka Kosala Wickremanayake told the Daily News yesterday. Wickremanayake's remarks were also the first private sector reaction to the media on the Panel Report released on April 12.

He said: "The controversial Report of the Darusman Panel appointed by the UN Secretary General on accountability issues on Sri Lanka rouses an intense public debate across the board of the Sri Lankan society and the debate will continue to reverberate in the political and economic contours of the country for some time to come.

"Although, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) does not intend to subscribe for a highly politically charged dialogue, we believe, that the Federation being the apex body of Regional Chambers and National Business Associations has the responsibility to make some preliminary comments and observations on the impact of the Report to the Sri Lankan business community in the country particularly in view of economic resurgence visible in the entire country due to the gradual reconciliation process.

"We were made to believe from the very inception that the Darusman Panel was appointed by the UN Secretary General in his personal capacity with the sole objective of obtaining expert advice on the evolving accountability issues in Sri Lanka, and not intended to make an investigative exercise.

"In this context, we believe that the report has nothing to do with the UN system, as the appointment of the panel has no proper UN mandate.

"Sri Lanka being a member of the United Nations system, the purpose of the Secretary General could have been better served by continuing the diplomatic engagements and dialogue with the Sri Lankan government through the established international norms and practices rather than appointing and conducting reporting exercise on Sri Lanka through outside Third Party functionaries who are said to be inflected with pre conceived notions."

The former FCCISL chief also said: "We are fully aware the government has taken all possible precautions to minimize the adverse effects on civilians and conducted the humanitarian operation during the entire period of the conflict under very difficult circumstances.

"With the ending of the LTTE terrorist movement, we in the business community are just beginning to breathe fresh air of peace, security, political stability and a conducive business environment.

"We have just commenced and taken positive initiatives to rejuvenate business activities, particularly in the Northern and Eastern regions to provide income and employment through private sector initiatives for the conflict affected people."