Regional market linkages for NE needed - CEPA

Indunil Hewage

Implementing long-term economic policies to eliminate multiple and overlapping poverty in the pre-conflict areas in Sri Lanka will assist in prospering the livelihoods of economically vulnerable people in the North and East provinces, CEPA Researcher Mohamed Munas said.

Addressing the Centre for Poverty Alleviation (CEPA) colloquium he said three decades of warfare has subverted and destabilized these communities in general and specially in income generation. "Rather than introducing new livelihood options and support services, strengthen existing livelihood activities and related institutions and service providers in the short time recovery period seems practical and useful," he said. In addition immediate measures need to be taken to revive the livelihoods of economically vulnerable people in the liberated areas while creating regional markets linkages with North and East," he said.

Another option is to generate more employment opportunities by providing seed capital support to local entrepreneurs within the community and linking them with the primary producers of community.