2nd Lead (Adds photos)

Donors meet in Kandy

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 May 2005, 11:44 GMT]
International donors met Monday at a key conference to discuss post-tsunami and post-conflict assistance for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Development Forum (SLDF), meeting in central hill country town of Kandy will deliberate for two days.

This is the first time this key donor forum is meeting in Sri Lanka. The World Bank and International monetary fund (IMF), Japan Bank For International Cooperation and other funding agencies and around 200 delegates from international donor agencies are participating, sources said.

Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga Monday inaugurated the Forum at the Earl’s Regency Hotel. Finance and Planning Minister Sarath Amunugama made the welcome address.

The World Bank’s vice president, Mr. Praful Patel, delivered an address on behalf of the development partners, sources said.

Sinhala Nationalist Buddhist Monks party, Jathika Hela Urumaya parliament group leader Rev. Athuraliye Rathana handing over a a memorandum President Chandrika Kumartunga.

(L-R) Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr Mahinda Rajapakshe, President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama.

After the inaugural event the second segment of the SLDF began in Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Katugastota, sources said

The first two sessions of the conference are to discuss post-tsunami related matters.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance and External resources Department Director General Sujatha Cooray, representatives from Task Force for rebuilding (TAFREN) and Government Agents (GA) in Matara, Trincomalee and Mullaitivu will address the Forum, source said.

Around 1000 policemen had been detailed for duties connected with the conference, police sources said.

Kandy Municipal Council area and its suburbs have been declared high security zone, Police said.

No vehicles are allowed to park on the roadside within the Municipal Council area during the two days Sri Lanka Development Forum (SLDF) conference is held, in order to allow free flow of traffic, police said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr.Chandra Fernando is in Kandy to supervise security situation, police said.

In case of emergency, the Sri Lanka army is in readiness to assist the police, they said. Most of the roads in Kandy are to be kept open, however.



Related Articles:
15.05.05   TNA kept out of Development Forum
15.05.05   Buddhist Congress protests against aid deal
14.05.05   Breakdown in JM negotiations will be a major blow- Akashi
13.05.05   Lack of normalcy eclipsed by joint mechanism debate - Thamil..
11.05.05   Joint Mechanism concerns linger as Donor Group readies for K..
11.05.05   Convincing donors, Kumaratunge's goal- Thamilchelvan
09.05.05   Tamil scepticism mounts as aid deal drifts
09.05.05   Joint mechanism mired in Sinhala politics