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| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
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Sri Lanka Development Forum 2005 : Focus on post-tsunami reconstruction, mid-term development by Rohan Mathes The Sri Lanka Development Forum-2005 is to focus on Sri Lanka's post-tsunami re-construction process and the medium-term development strategies. The 'Millennium Development Goals Country Report-2005' is also to be launched at the forum. Finance Ministry sources told the Sunday Observer that as the development partners would be given an opportunity to engage in a wider consultative process regarding medium-term development strategies, the forum will be of special significance to Sri Lanka. This Forum to be held in Kandy on May 16-17, is expected to be inaugurated by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Cabinet ministers, senior officials, representatives from the private sector, trade unions, non-government organisations, civil societies and other stakeholders are also expected to participate. Representatives from over fifty countries and international donor agencies, including many development assistance, ministers and heads of departments will be present. The Japanese government is to send a high-level delegation from its foreign ministry for the forum. Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama told the Sunday Observer that while reviewing the tsunami re-construction process, they would also review the economy and the growth trajectory of the country. "This would be the first time the NGOs would have a chance to participate in a forum of this nature", Amunugama opined. Media Officer of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Brenn Jones, told the Sunday Observer that the Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Relief Erstkin Bowles will represent the UN. "The Development Forum is more of a government initiative with the donor agencies and banks. We are not aware of the dimensions of the forum yet and so it will be premature to speak on it now", he said. World Bank (WB) sources told the Sunday Observer that the forum will be represented by WB's South Asia Vice President Praful Patel. Sources said that the forum would be an ideal opportunity for Sri Lanka to review its relationships with the international community and to engage in a productive dialogue on key issues such as development and poverty reduction. In addition to the tsunami reconstruction process, the WB envisages to discuss with the government the 'Millennium Development Goals' and the government's economic policy framework. The benefits of the country's economic growth during the last decade or so has not trickled down to a large population of the country. This has been a matter of grave concern to the government and the major development groups. The WB would seek a debate on this issue in order to see a change in the lives of these people who have not reaped the benefits of the economic growth. "The International community would also be interested in the peace process. We would also look forward to an exchange of views on the peace process", the WB official further said. |
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