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| Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
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Editorial
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ADB project to step up momentum in N-E reconstruction The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing a US$40 million project to continue reconstruction in the North and East. It will include a grant of US$ 14 million. The project report will be forwarded to the ADB board next month said Vice President ADB Liqun Jin who was in the country recently. During his stay he visited Hambantota and Batticaloa. The assistance will focus on restoring community based infrastructure and livelihoods as well as roads and water supply systems in the North and the East. The ADB has included measures that will shorten the time needed to recruit consultants and contracts as well as the possibility of financing expenditure already incurred to facilitate proper utilisation. He said that the ADB set up an Asian tsunami fund in February and plans are afoot to transfer US$ 600 million from its own resources to be disbursed as grant assistance. Of these funds already US$150 million has been set aside for Sri Lanka. He said that we are still in the early stages of post tsunami work and therefore it requires a continued effort to get the people back to normalcy. It is time to rebuild the community with houses and their livelihoods. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the momentum. It is a tough job, but we believe that the momentum would be kept and accelerated. Jin said that all those affected by the tsunami should get support be they in the North or South and the ADB will support a joint mechanism. He said that the ADB in collaboration with the World Bank, United Nations and all tsunami affected countries had a stock taking meeting in Manila on March 18 to compare experiences, assess the adequacy of financial commitments on reconstruction and promote mechanisms for coordination under the leadership of the respective governments. The response of the international community was very positive and the international sympathy for Sri Lanka was overwhelming, Jin said. He said that financing gaps were identified and commitments were reconfirmed and the urgency of transforming financial assistance into actual benefits were stressed by all at the meeting in Manila. Jin said that as we work to rebuild lives and livelihoods, it is critical to rebuild hope and confidence in the future." I believe this is a unique opportunity for the country to establish a firm foundation for its future development and called upon all to use this opportunity not to simply recreate the past but to create a better life for the citizens of Sri Lanka. ADB Resident Representative Alessandro Pio was also present. (SG) |
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Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
