The government’s reconstruction and reconciliation process is in full swing while an unprecedented effort is under way to revive the country’s economy after ending the 27 years of terror, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York Dr. Palitha Kohona said.
Addressing the a special panel discussion held at the Asia society titled ‘Sri Lanka looks ahead, will prosperity bring peace?’ he said thegovernment had committed US $ 360 million to the development of the North apart from the bilateral and multilateral donations of over US $ 2 billion.
At the panel discussion, where the Ambassador Robert Blake was also participated Dr. Kohona said since the end of the conflict in May 18m 2009 not a single suicide bomb had been exploded or a gun fired in anger.
“ Persisting with the recovery effort, over 850 schools and all the hospitals and clinics have been rehabilitated. Hundred of miles of roads and power lines have been restored. The economic revival is in fully swing in the North. Agricultural and fisheries production in the former LTTE controlled areas has continued to surge. 200,000 acres of rice have come under the plough. An additional 75,000 tons of fish from the North and the East are now added to the market monthly. Economic marginalization in the past was a factor that caused disenchantment in peoples minds”, he said.
Dr. Kohona said a remarkable level of confidence has returned to the country contributing to the reconstruction effort. “ The stock market has continued to surge and has improved by over 180 percent. Inward tourism has rebounded by over 50 percent since January 2010. Considerable interest has been shown by foreign investors, including large hotel chains. Shangrila has agreed to invent over US$ 500 million”, he said.
Explaining the progress in resettlement, rehabilitation of ex- LTTE cadres and reconciliation efforts he said the Tamil community scattered around the world is an important factor in the reconciliation and reconstruction effort.
“Many of those who have returned to their villages have relatives elsewhere in the world. The government has continued to reach out to these communities”, Dr. Kohona said.