SL on remarkable recovery track

Statement by Ravinatha Aryasinha, ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU, at the European Parliament South Asia Delegation’s discussion on Sri Lanka on April 24, 2012.

Less than three years ago, as Sri Lanka emerged from its 30 year long struggle against LTTE terrorism, there were many ‘prophets of doom’, including in this Parliament, who mis-judged both Sri Lanka’s will and capacity.

Pessimistic projections

It was said;

- that the IDP welfare villages set up were a 'humanitarian catastrophe' and that malnutrition, disease and death would be rampant

- that the government was not interested in de-mining and that the conflict affected areas will remain unused forever

- likening the Sri Lankan IDP welfare villages to "concentration camps", it was said that the IDPs would be "incarcerated" there indefinitely

- the government's intent regards the ex-LTTE combatants was questioned, claiming that "their lives were in danger

- that the emergency would not be rescinded nor the high security zones disbanded

- that the government would not be able to undertake the massive investment that was needed to restore livelihoods and ensure infrastructure development in the previously conflict affected area, let alone ensure economic growth in the rest of the country given emerging global trends

- the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was mocked as comprising 'government stooges' and the prediction was that their report would be a 'whitewash'. As you yourself recently reminded me Madam Chair, "many even doubted whether the LLRC report would ever see the light of day"

Facts on the ground

Given this backdrop, the verifiable facts on the ground prove the 'prophets of doom' dismally wrong.

- the socio-economic, nutritional and mortality indicators in the IDP villages housing the displaced,

were deemed commendable by international standards, to that of a normal population of this magnitude.

- of the estimated 2061.53 Sq. KMs contaminated with land mines and UXOs, as at the end of March 2012, 1,936.80 Sq. KMs, or 94 percent of the area had been cleared. Eighty percent of this demining work was carried out by the Sri Lanka Army, which is a remarkable achievement in any post-conflict situation.

- from a high of 297,000 a little under three years ago, 98 percent of the IDPs have left and numbers at the only remaining welfare village at 'Manik Farm' has come down to 6,022 persons (1,800 families), and the government has pledged to resettle those remaining by the end of June this year.

Here again the government has borne most of the cost, spending 360 Million USD for the IDP resettlement programme. An initiative aimed at the construction of over 78,000 new houses in the North has been launched which includes those built under the North East Housing Construction Programme (NEHRP) with donor assistance.

- of the 11,995 ex-LTTE combatants who surrendered or were arrested at the end of the conflict, 90.7 percent, or 10,874 (which includes 595 child combatants) have been rehabilitated and re-integrated into society. Protective Accommodation and Rehabilitation Centres (PARC) established in many parts of the country conducts psycho-social care such as counselling and drama, dance and music therapy as well as spiritual and religious programmes. Adult cadres have been provided with extensive vocational training making them employable once released.

- the High Security Zones have been reduced by 63 percent, from 4098 Sq KM to 2582 Sq KM. The emergency regulations lapsed completely with effect from August 30, 2011. Since then, and with improvement of the security situation in the former conflict affected areas, civil administration has been fully restored and the role of the military has been increasingly confined to security related matters.

- the government has already provided US $ 318 million for the socio-economic and livelihood development in the Northern and Eastern provinces, and a substantial portion of this money has been allocated for the self-employment loan schemes. Moreover, the government has allocated a further sum of US $ 700 million for infrastructure and economic development programmes including housing, roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and irrigation schemes.

The government has also embarked on 27 donor assisted development projects of which 23 are implemented in the North and the East. These development projects are valued at approximately US $ 201 million for the year 2011 alone.

The allocation of infrastructure development in the Jaffna district in the Northern Province is USD 300 million, while US $ 250 million and US $ 150 million have been invested in development projects in the Killinochchi and Batticaloa districts, respectively. The results from these efforts have been tangible, with the Northern Province recording a 22 percent growth rate. Further, in terms of investment promotion, the Atchchuveli Industrial Zone is being developed in a 25 acre land area and is expected to attract approximately 40 local and foreign investors. This project is expected to generate 6,000 employment opportunities.

As a transport facility, Palaly airport and the Kankesanthurai (KKS) harbour, which is situated only 10 Km from the Zone, has been upgraded. The government expects that this project will enable small and medium enterprises to better tap into advantages to investors.

Notwithstanding the worsening global economic environment, Sri Lanka has also shown considerable economic resilience;

*Sri Lanka's economy grew by 8.3 percent in 2011, the highest in Sri Lanka's post independence history, sustaining a momentum of over 8 percent for the first time in two consecutive years.

*Improved consumer and investor confidence arising from the peace dividend, favourable macro-economic conditions, increased capacity utilization, expansion of infrastructure facilities and renewed economic activity in the Northern and Eastern provinces has underpinned this growth.

*Inflation remained at single digit levels for the third consecutive year.

*Unemployment declined to its lowest level of 4.2 percent in 2011, from 4.9 percent in 2010.

*In 2011 Sri Lanka's international trade has also performed commendably, with export income growing by 22 percent. Closer home, according to the Sri Lanka Central Bank statistics, it is noteworthy that in 2011 Sri Lanka's exports to the EU (US $ 3,576 million) grew by 24.4 percent , compared to the corresponding period of 2010 (US $ 2,875 million).

*With respect to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), including loans, grew by 107 percent to US dollars 1,066 million in 2011 over US dollars 516 million in 2010. European investment in Sri Lanka in 2011 amounted to US $ 197 Million, which was 18.4 percent of the total FDI attracted by the country.

*Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka grew by 30.8 percent in 2011, with visitors from Europe recording a 42 percent increase.

- as for the LLRC, the domestic mechanism based on the principle of restorative justice established by the President of Sri Lanka on May15, 2010 to make recommendations aimed at ensuring that there is no recurrence of the unfortunate situation of the past and to promote national unity and reconciliation amongst all communities in Sri Lanka, we now have a clear document with which to engage and consolidate peace.

a) Notwithstanding the magnitude of the task of dealing with a 30 year long conflict, that the LLRC completed its comprehensive report in 20 months, and the government in turn made the full report public shortly after, speaks volumes about the openness and transparency shown in this regard.

This is in contrast to similar endeavours such as the UK Chilcott Commission of Inquiry, where the Commission appointed in 2009 to inquire into matters spanning for only a period of less than nine years, is yet to produce a report.

To be continued