The Colombo Plan at 60

Upali S. Jayasekera Vice Patron, Colombo Plan International Society
 

The Colombo Plan celebrated its 60th anniversary on July 1, 2011. The origin of the Colombo Plan, dates back to the Commonwealth Foreign Minister’s Conference held in Colombo on January 9, 1950. Sri Lanka’s (then Ceylon) ministerial delegation to the conference comprised Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, Finance Minister J. R. Jayewardene, Justice Minister Sir Lalitha Rajapaksa, Parliamentary Secretary to the External Affairs Minister R. G. Senanayake.

Ten- year plan

At this conference, Minister Jayewardene came out with the proposal that a committee be set up to prepare a 10 year plan for the development of the countries in South-East Asia through international collaboration. His proposal, incidentally, had the same features as that put forward by the Australian delegation led by Sir Percy Spencer.

Thus, credit for the formulation of the Colombo Plan concept should as such go to President J. R. Jayewardene and Sir Percy Spencer, the then Australian Foreign Minister.

The draft resolution tabled by Minister Jayewardene read. “To ensure a high and stable level of employment and to raise the standard of living of underdeveloped countries in South East Asia, whether within the Commonwealth or outside it, it is necessary to develop their agricultural and industrial economies.

“This conference, therefore, agrees to appoint a committee of officials of the countries concerned to obtain information and to prepare a ten-year plan for the development of these countries. The other members of the Commonwealth should consider means of providing such assistance as may be necessary for the implementation of this plan with money, guaranteed prices, technical skill and machinery.

“The Plan should be examined by a committee of experts who after visiting the countries concerned shall make recommendations with regard to the help which is Commonwealth countries can give in carrying out this programme.”

It is apparent that Minister Jayewardene’s proposal had been motivated by a sincere desire to improve the lot of the peoples of the South-East Asian countries as the living standards in those countries at the time, were very low. For instance the average income per head, when we were granted Independence in 1948 was about Rs 20 and life expectancy was around 50 years.

Elimination of poverty

The conference after discussing the resolution tabled by Sri Lanka and Australia agreed to recommend to the respective governments about means to promote economic development in South-East Asia.

The resolution in effect, gave vent to the situation prevailing in South-East Asian countries at the time and the desire to eliminate poverty and improve living standards through international co-operation and collaboration. It was adopted at the conference thereby preparing the stage for the launching of the Colombo Plan.

The leaders who attended the Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Colombo and who conceived the Colombo Plan concept, could therefore by rightly called its founding fathers.

They were D. S. Senanayake, Ministers J. R. Jayewardene, Sir, Lalith Rajapaksa and R. G. Senanayake (Sri Lanka) Percy Spenscer (Australia), Shri Jawahalal Nehru (India), Frederick Diodge (New Zealand), Lester Pearson, R. W. Mayhew (Canada), Earnest Bevin, Phillip Noel Baker (Great Britain) and Paul Sauer (South Africa).

In furtherance of the resolution adopted at the Colombo conference, the first meeting of the Consultative Committee was held in Sydney commencing May 10, 1950, as convened by the Australian government.

Technical assistance

The preparation of a National Development Plan by each country determining the priority of projects and stating the amount of assistance needed for them, the setting up a Commonwealth Technical Assistance Scheme to provide assistance to maximum value of eight million staggered over a period of three years commencing July 1, 1950, with great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada contributing 80 percent of that amount, and the establishment of a Bureau in Colombo to implement the Technical Assistance Programme, were the more important decisions taken at the Sydney meeting, which recommendations were to be put forward to the respective governments for approval.

Task of coordinating

The task of coordinating the preparation of the development plan, while seeking the co-operation of non-commonwealth countries in Asia was entrusted to the Australian government which work was completed by the time the London conference commenced on September 25, 1950.

Two reports, prepared by officials in advance, one on economic development in South and South-East Asia and the other on the technical assistance scheme were discussed at the London Conference. On agreement being reached the report titled ‘The Colombo Plan for Co-operative Economic Development in South and South-East Asia’ was adopted unanimously, which once again, was to be considered by the individual governments in the Commonwealth.

Establishment of C Plan

On all governments agreeing, the Colombo Plan was launched on July 1, 1951 as a regional inter-governmental organization aimed at Cooperative Economic Development in the countries of South and South-East Asia.

The Colombo Plan embodies the concept of collective international effort towards the economic and social development of member countries in the Asia Pacific region. It provides for a forum for discussion of the development needs of member countries and for the exchange of information and acts as a catalyst for information on new ideas or existing concepts which need further encouragement and support. It is significant that all decisions are by consensus among the member countries.

In fact, the principles underlying the operation of the Colombo Plan is amply demonstrated by its motto ‘Planning Prosperity Together’.

It is to the credit to this body, that it has pioneered the networking of international and regional organizations with a view to ensure that their combined resources are put to effective us in the region and are shared, to meet the needs of the member countries.

Technical co-operation among developing member countries, a feature once again pioneered by the Colombo Plan, has been substantial and resulted in the transfer of expertise in different fields and discipline. The developed member countries have also contributed their share in a larger measure where technical assistance is concerned. The Population Programme, the Drug Advisory Programme, and the Technical Development Projects initiated under the auspices of the Colombo Plan in the past, have helped the developing countries in the South and South-East Asia region, their development efforts, especially in the fields of Agriculture, Industrial Research, Power, Irrigation, Rural Development, Water Management, Health, Education, Science and Technology.

Decrease in assistance

However, the assistance flowing through the Colombo Plan has been on the decrease as a result bilateralism of international aid and the surfacing of specialized international agencies. That situation led to the re-orientation of the activities of the Colombo Plan. As at present the Colombo Plan concentrates only on permanent and regular training programmes that are relevant to developing member countries and programmes formulated on a project-by-project basis that meets the development needs of the member countries in the areas of social and economic development, the current programmes being programme for public administration to train public servants in public administration to meet the changing needs of a market oriented economy. Programme for private sector development focusing on small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurship development. That involves skill development of managers especially in the areas of business management. Drug advisory programme aimed at eliminating drug abuse covering both demand and supply reduction.

South-South Technical Cooperation /Data Bank to collect and disseminate information on activities of public and private sectors of member countries: Development of special projects that are of importance to member countries and a Staff College for Technical Education based in Manilla, Phillippines, functions as a specialized agency of the Colombo Plan where training needs are met.

The Consultative Committee

The Consultative Committee which consists of all member countries is the policy making body and meets every two years. The Consultative Committee while reviewing the activities of the Colombo Plan, decides on development issues in the region and technical cooperation programmes.

Council

The Colombo Plan Council, which also consists of all member countries meets in Colombo several times a year. The heads of the Diplomatic Missions in Colombo represent their countries at the Council Meetings.

The Council identifies the necessary development issues and recommends measures to be taken to the Consultative Committee and follows up implementation of the Consultative Committee decisions and directives.

What is admirable is that the Colombo Plan has the flexibility to change to meet the changing needs of the countries in the region, with due respect for the views of the member countries, whilst arriving at decisions by consensus. The present Chairperson of the Colombo Plan Council is H.E. Kathy Klugman, High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The Colombo Plan Secretariat, headed by the Secretariat General, provides the administrative support for implementation of the programmes decided by the Consultative Committee and assists the Colombo Plan Council in discharging its functions. The Secretary General is in charge of all administrative and financial matters on which he has to report to the Council. Ms. Patricia Yoon - Moi CHIA is the present Secretary General.

The Colombo Plan launched by seven Commonwealth countries, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1951 after 60 years of existence, has now a membership of 26 countries, as aid givers and aid receivers, and is no more a Commonwealth Organisation. Two of the original nations, Canada and Great Britain, withdrew from the Colombo Plan in 1991, while South Africa earlier lost membership on leaving the Commonwealth. The present members of the Colombo Plan are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Phillippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United States of America and Vietnam.

The Colombo Plan was originally intended to be a temporary programme to meet the Post-War development needs of the countries in the region. Nevertheless its longevity is proof of the success of Colombo Plan one of the oldest Inter-Governmental Organizations. It is relevant today as when established.

When discussions and deliberations in world bodies and organizations are discordant than being cooperative, the Colombo Plan, is one inter-governmental body that promotes cordiality and cooperation in development and poverty alleviation in more practical terms with all member counties as equal partners.

The Colombo Plan, no doubt, has made a significant contribution towards the economic and social development of the Asia Pacific Region and it has a role to play in the future too, enhancing the prosperity of the peoples of the region.