Jaffna don on heralding economic revival in the North

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

A joint State-private sector effort supported by the donor agencies is the need of the hour to herald the economic revival of Northern Sri Lanka, said a former Economics Professor of the Jaffna University Dr. C. Balakrishnan.

He was addressing a seminar, chaired by him on Economic Revival of Northern Sri Lanka Challenges and Options for Policy Actions on Friday at the BMICH.

He said the donor agencies who showed a high profile interest as early as 2002 on resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the Northern Province are now needed for their commitment at an accelerated pace. In 2002 US$ 3 billion was estimated for the resettlement, rehabilitation, and reconstruction program to be undertaken in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and the Mannar districts.

In view of the radical transformation, the Northern landscape has undergone during the past three decades, a more comprehensive economic recovery plan is essential today before initiating any development activities, he said.

The Principal Researcher of Institute of Development (PRID), Point Pedro Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan speaking on "Economic Freedom - Key to Economic Renaissance in the Conflict Affected Region" said the agriculture and fisheries based economic revival is more suited to northern Sri Lanka due to the scarcity of resources to be exploited.

Eurovile CEO and Jaffna Managers' Association representative M. Ramathasan stressed the need for a private sector Secretariat in Jaffna to cater to the private sector's role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation bluepoint."

Senior economics lecturer, Colombo University Dr. Srimal Abeyratne said the South carries a greater responsibility to accept the challenge of revival in the North.

Former Chief Secretary Northern Province, S. Rangarajah also addressed the seminar which was organised by the Pathfinder Foundation.