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)
