NIMAL SIRIPALA DE SILVA ASKS DONOR NATIONS IN GALLE HOW COULD SRI LANKA PROCEED WHEN LTTE IS NOT READY TO NEGOTIATE

By Walter Jayawardhana

The World Bank website quoted Sri Lanka’s chief piece negotiator Nimal Siripala de Silva as having told the donors concerned about war that without the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) agreeing for negotiations the country cannot proceed in peace negotiations.

The website said Sri Lanka’s Chief peace negotiator Nimal Siripala de Silva dismissed donor concerns saying the government could not resume talks unless the Tigers agreed to negotiate
The website said Sri Lanka believes that donors should separate aid from the conflict and allow the administration to press ahead with its own economic agenda.

The website was reporting the happenings of the meeting of the representatives of the aid consortium that was held at Galle. Many VIP’s of the Sri Lanka government, including the Sri Lankan President attended the conference.

The world bank website also quoted its South Asia Vice President in contrast : “… The World Bank's South Asia Vice President Praful Patel said the country's future depended on ending the Tamil separatist conflict peacefully. ‘There is no way to politely skirt this issue,’ Patel said. ‘As a major development partner to Sri Lanka, the World Bank would be failing if we did not place the conflict front and center in our deliberations for it is this that constrains the country's development and stands in the way of its tremendous potential.’

He warned that this year will be a difficult one for Sri Lanka unless the government addressed the issue of runaway inflation currently at over 19 percent. ‘If inflation continues at the current levels of nearly 20 percent, 2007 will not be a good year for the economy,’ Patel warned. … He said the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and not violence. …”

The World Bank website also reported warnings sounded against Sri Lanka in Galle: “Sri Lanka will lose millions of dollars unless it makes peace with Tamil separatists, diplomats and officials warned as the crucial review of aid entered its second day Tuesday. But the government appeared determined to resist pressure from international donors and lenders to link aid to progress in the island's faltering peace efforts with Tamil Tiger guerrillas.

The EU, a key backer of the Norwegian-led peace efforts … has also been critical of the government's human rights record in the face of escalating fighting with Tamil rebels. Late last year Germany announced a halt in any new aid to Sri Lanka and asked others to follow suit. … The US … sent Ambassador Robert Blake, but he issued a warning to Sri Lanka against pursuing a military solution to the drawn-out Tamil separatist conflict. …”

But World bank website quoted Investment Promotion Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama as having said the country has clinched 4.5 billion dollars from the donors. The website said, “Sri Lanka Tuesday said it clinched up to $4.5 billion worth of aid pledges from international lenders and donors following a meeting in the southern coastal town of Galle.

Investment Promotions Minister Sarath Amunugama said donors pledged help to build roads, ports, coal power plants and highways during the final day of the two-day aid review meeting. ‘International donors expressed satisfaction at our economic track record and we have got commitments up to $4.5 billion this year,’ he told reporters. He did not specify a timeline and did not give details on the precise amounts promised by individual donors and lending institutions. The comments also came after donors warned Colombo that it could face a cut in assistance unless it made peace with Tamil Tigers. …”