World Bank commends LTTE for its cooperation

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 July 2003, 15:43 GMT]
The Country Director of the World Bank in Sri Lanka, Mr Peter C.Harrold, Friday launched the Tamil version the of the publication “Sri Lanka Country Assistance Strategy 2003-2006 (CAS)” at an event held at the North East Provincial Health Ministry auditorium in Trincomalee, where he thanked the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the close cooperation the LTTE has extended to the Bank in implementing projects it funded, sources said.

Mr. Harrold handed over a copy of the Tamil publication to the Planning Director General of the LTTE, Mr.Thooyavan, who participated at the event. The first copy was handed over to the Chief Secretary of the North East Provincial Council, Mr.S.Rangarajah.

Mr. Harrold thanked Mr.Thooyavan for the cooperation extended by the LTTE in the implementation of WB funded projects such as the North East Integrated Agricultural Project (NEIAP) in the Northeast province.

According to Mr. Harrold, the support of the World Bank for Sri Lanka is centered around three themes, peace, growth and equity. He said that the WB would extend its whole-hearted support for the rehabilitation, resettlement and revival of livelihoods in the Northeast through the restoration of health services, irrigation and water supply. The WB would also compensate the displaced people now returning home.

One third of the financial assistance through the World Bank would go to the reconstruction of the Northeast province, Mr. Harrold said, and added, “An interim administration for the Northeast province is expected in the near future and the WB is ready to work with such an institution.”

Expressing confidence that the peace process will be re-activated, Mr. Harrold said that the WB will participate in the functioning of the North East Reconstruction Fund as an administrator. "We believe progress in peace process must accompany economic progress," he said.

The NEIAP project has helped several thousands of people in the Vanni and in other parts of the Northeast, sources said.

Mr. Harrold said that the aid utilization rate is recorded higher in the Northeast province compared to other parts of the country, and the effective implementation of the WB funded NEIAP and ADB funded North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) under the North East Provincial Council has proved this.

Mr.Thooyavan said at the event that the LTTE is prepared to extend its fullest cooperation to the World Bank in implementing its development projects in the Northeast province and that the WB-funded NEIAP project is being successfully implemented in the Northeast province.

"We are prepared to extend our fullest co-operation to all development projects that are to be implemented in the interests of our people," said Mr.Thooyavan.

The proposed interim administrative structure for the Northeast province is seen as a vehicle to move forward the peace process, said the Trincomalee district parliamentarian, Mr.R.Sampanthan.

The World Bank Country Co-ordinator, Ms Debbie Bateman, also spoke at the event. Provincial Secretary to the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Mr.S.Sivathasan, made the welcome speech and proposed the vote of thanks.




Mr.Thooyavan, LTTE's Director of Planning meets Mr. Peter Harrold, the WB Country Director.






Mr. Thooyavan addressing the meeting






Mr. S. Rangarajah, chief secretary to the Northeast Provincial Council receiving the CAS from Mr. Harrold






Mr. Lawrence Christy (Thilagar), Director Planning, TRO, among the invitees (extreme left)