KAMALIKA PIERIS

Several external agencies were supporting the LTTE during the Eelam wars. UNICEF had links with LTTE. UNICEF staffers in Sri Lanka were found to be working with the LTTE.   UNICEF in     2007 had imported 6000 ready to eat meal packs and it was suspected that this was for the LTTE. Head of the UN Children’s Fund at Kilinochchi   had linked with the LTTE and was moved out of Sri Lanka.   Therefore foreign assistance to the separatist north is nothing new.

There was considerable foreign assistance to get the North back on its feet after the Eelam war. Many countries offered support. They included Australia, European Union, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Norway, UK, also UN agencies such as ILO, UNDP, the World Bank and several NGOs. Here are some examples of foreign assistance.

Since 2009, Australia has provided more than AUD250 million to support the reconstruction of conflict-affected communities in the North and East.Australian support has included housing and local infrastructure construction, de-mining, education, and a wide range of economic and business activities. Resettled families in Valikamam North, had benefited from the Australia – World Bank ‘North East Local Services Improvement Programme’

 Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on a pipe-borne water provision project was signed in 2018 between the District Secretariat of Jaffna, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Jaffna, and World Vision Lanka (WVL).The project will provide household level pipe-borne water to Sarasalai North Grama Niladhari division in Chavakachcheri, an area faced with critical water related issues. This will benefit88 households, (nearly 350 individuals including 110 children) with water connections. The project is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia. The project so far has given access to safe drinking water & sanitation and promoted hygiene practices among rural people in the two DS Divisions of Chavakachcheri and Chankanai.

Australia has provided the funds to the IOM to restore critical fishing infrastructure in the Jaffna peninsula. The reconstructed anchorage will allow full access to the sea at any time.

The European Union set up a Support to District Development Programme (EU-SDDP). This was a 60-month Programme funded by the European Union aimed at assisting Sri Lanka to make a transition from post-conflict assistance to reconstruction and development. 

There were six implementing agencies of this Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and International Finance Corporation (IFC). The programme was to support the conflict-affected districts of Batticaloa, Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Monaragala, Anuradhapura and Puttalam impacting half a million people.  Its duration was 2012 – 2017.’

 This was not all. The EU and UNICEF was to provide a pediatric ward at the Mannar Divisional Hospital in Chilawathurai, a water supply scheme in Periyamadu East and the Gramodhaya Health Centre at Asikulam, Vavuniya. EU and UNRC handed over equipment to the Technical College of the Department of Technical Education and Training in Nelumkulum, Vavuniya District.

EU is helping Local Economic Development Centre and Economic Advisory Service unit at Venkalachedikulam. This is funded through EU-SDDP and implemented by UNDP. The EU-SDDP is also helping Vavuniya General Hospital through an UNOPS-implemented sewerage and waste water treatment facility, reported the media.

Further, EU will finance a Euro 14 million multi-faceted housing project, implemented by Habitat for Humanity and World Vision Lanka. The project aims to build 2,315 houses and repair 140 homes in 31 divisions across Batticaloa, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu by early 2020.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization. The organization serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender and has been in Sri Lanka since 1977. The organization has 45 programmes spread across 19 Districts in the country.

 The ‘Friends of Sri Lanka Group’ of the European Parliament under took a visit to the country from 2 to 6 January 2019.  The Friends of Sri Lanka Group since its inception in 2006 has been involved in the promotion of EU – Sri Lanka relations. The Friends last visited Sri Lanka in February 2016. “

During their visit, they went to Vavuniya and the Security Forces Commander / Wanni,    Maj. General Kumudu Perera briefed them on the work done by the army in aiding resettlement activities. They also met with the District Secretary  of Vavuniya, and visited a resettlement village in Sithampirapuram/ Vavuniya, where they engaged in an open dialogue with the inhabitants of the area.

Germany funded project to construct 10 wells in the Chettilukam division of Vavuniya. Sri Lanka German Training Institute SLGTI initiated by German development corporation GIZ   and co funded by government of Switzerland set  up a training centre at Kilinochchi.. It will function under NAITA.  Germany has also helped NAITA to set up a vocation training centre  at Kaithady, Jaffna.

India has provided a great deal of assistance to the north and east. In 2018 India issued a list of completed projects in Sri Lanka . The list went  like this, Northern Province 26, Central Province 11,    Eastern Province 10, Western Province 4, Southern Province 4, North Central Province 2, Uva 2, North Western Province 1, and  Sabaragamuwa 1.

India has granted Sri Lanka a credit line of US$ 45.27 million for financing the rehabilitation of the Kankesanturai harbor. This would make the harbour a full-fledged commercial port. This could be considered India’s most important contribution. India  also agreed to develop roads in Jaffna and Trincomalee .

In 2018 India  funded 50,000 houses in the country on a grant basis. Of these 46,000 went to the North and East and 4,000 to the upcountry. Another 10,000 houses have now been pledged to the hill country. India has  also agreed to provide Rs. 300 million to build 300 houses in the vicinity of the Madhu Church in Mannar, for the use of devotees and tourists.

 In 2018 India  also said it had  committed  4,000 houses in the Eastern Province. This is in addition to 42,000 houses built under grants by the Government of India in the North and 14,000 being built in the upcountry.  The government of India has constructed a total of 46,000 houses  and25 model villages consisting of 600 houses, said the media in 2019. 

India gave a grant assistance package of vehicles, equipment, machinery to the faculties of Agriculture and Engineering of Killinochchi Campus of University of Jaffna. The grant assistance package is worth SLR 90 million and is part of the SLR 600 million grant project to develop both faculties of the Universities.

In 2019 India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Business Centre for ICT incubators/ accelerators in Jaffna with a grant of SLR 250 million from India. There is also an Indian funded English language lab in Jaffna.

India has provided a generous grant of Rs 1.7 billion to construct a Cultural centre in Jaffna district. It will be located adjoin the Jaffna Public Library. To help them reconnect with their cultural roots, and nurture the ancient cultural heritage of Jaffna

 In2016 Sri Lanka and India singed MOU to supply 150 boats and fishing equipment to fishermen of M Mullaitivu. In 2017 India gave Rs 300 million to construct 3000 rain water harvesting system in the Jaffna administration district. In 2018 India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding  on a sanitation project under which 3400 toilets would be constructed in the Batticaloa District.  

Japan provided grants for two development projects to support livelihoods of agricultural community in Ampara and fishery community in Mannar, under the scheme “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Securities Project”.(GGP)

Japan is providing Rs 90 million for a project for livelihood assistance for those returning to their homes in north and east. About 60 pre-school children will also be provided an improved preschool education facility to enhance early education environment.

Japan will give US$ 86,358 (approx. Rs. 14.7 million) for “The Project for Constructing School Buildings for Resettled Children in Kilinochchi District” through  the GGP. Japan will  help in construction of two school buildings at Vembodukerny C.C.T.M School in Pachchilaipalli Division, Kilinochchi District. At present 214 students of grade 1 to 11 are studying at the school, however several classes are being conducted outside due to the shortage of classrooms.

The Project for the Economic and Social integration of the IDP returnees in Trincomalee District” is currently being implemented in Sampur, by Sevalanka Foundation with the Japanese Government ODA grant aid of US$93,022 (approx. Rs. 13.5 million) under this project. It will benefit 189 members of the Fishermens’ Society  by provision of fishing gear  and also by the construction of a fishermens’ facility and renovation of roads.    Japan  also handed over eight new fishing boats, engines, fishing nets and cooler boxes to the Sampur Fishermens’ Society. “

Korean International Cooperation Agency, (KOICA) is now on the third stage of the safe drinking water project for Mullaitivu, reported the media in 2019. It was a joint project with the NGO, ‘The Lamp’.

Norway is funding a two year project Mailaddy fisheries harbour, which will be renovated at a cost of Rs 400 million. Norway has already supported through UNDP Rs. 290 million to the newly resettled community in the Valalai and Thellipalai areas in Jaffna District and in the Sampoor area in Trincomalee District to start their livelihoods.

Nearly 600 families resettled on newly released land in the North and East of Sri Lanka will benefit from £1 million from the UK Government to support the provision of basic infrastructure and services.

The funding is being provided through the UK’s Conflict Security and Stability Fund (CSSF), increasing the UK’s contribution through the CSSF for Sri Lanka to £7.9 million between 2016 and 2019.The funding is part of the UK’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s Peacebuilding Priority Plan, a joint strategy agreed by the UN and the Government of Sri Lanka to support long term post-conflict peace building in Sri Lanka.

The funding will help those returning to their homes in the Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa districts by contributing towards roads, wells and sanitary services, and help re-establish access to local government services as well as local civil society organizations.

 In 2016 the media reported that the    Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, SDC has been in humanitarian work for 13 years, primarily in Jaffna, where they rebuilt schools, constructed houses, with        Rs.   550000 per 000 per housing unit for over 5000 families. 200 families in Jaffna and Kilinochchi. They have helped  companies for Palmyrah fiber, seaweed, dried fish, ground nuts and tailoring.  

 International Labour Organization (ILO) with  the UN office for Project services is working with NAITA to increase skilled labor force in construction sector of Batticaloa, Mannar and Vavuniya.

 ILO also has its “LEED+” project.(Local Empowerment through Economic Development and Reconciliation). LEED project has a rich history in the Northern Province , having commenced back in 2011 , with funding from the Governments of Australia and Norway.

LEED launched a  project at Mullaitivu  in September 2018. ” This was made possible through joint funding from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka. It is aimed at empowering local farming, fishing communities, producers organizations and small and medium enterprises establishing and strengthening local cooperatives and empowering women. Particular focus will be on vulnerable women and persons with disabilities.

UNDP, together with FAO, is working at three levels in the north, to ‘Improve sustainable livelihoods’, ‘Improve productive infrastructure’ and ‘Strengthen capacity of local Producer Organisations’. 

UNDP and FAO are supporting producer groups and organizations involved in key sectors of dairy, food processing, handicrafts and decorative items, commercial agriculture, fisheries, palmyrah and coir-based products Also, over 12000 small to medium-scale producers   are being helped improve production, marketing and processing. UNDP is  also helping to give  access to start- up seed capital, business mentoring and internship opportunities for 1100 young entrepreneurs. 

In 2016 World Bank, with the  International Finance Corporation has rolled out a programme to promote business for small business in Mannar and Vavuniya districts. It is also funded by EU and implemented by five UN agencies and IFC.

World Bank also granted USD 20 million for improvement of local services in North and east. It was for  rural small bridges, parks, small water schemes, rural electrification, waste dispels, drainage.

Rotary has helped to give wells to Seenanvali and Santhosapuram in Muttur, helped to develop Trincomalee general hospital, Eravur base hospital, and provide toilets for a girls’ home and boys’ home in Batticaloa. Rotary also gave a computer centre to Technical College, Vavuniya,   and provided preschool teacher training for Jaffna, Batticaloa.   

Canadian Tamil Congress had raised Canadian Dollar 110,000 for war widows of Sampur. ( Continued)