India continues broad spectrum engagement with Sri Lanka

Many India-propelled projects have ensured that the people can begin rebuilding their lives

May 23, 2011 12:39 am | Updated 12:39 am IST - COLOMBO:

Helping to rebuild the battered infrastructure in the north Sri Lanka and catering to the livelihood concerns of the Tamils have marked the broad spectrum Indian engagement with Sri Lanka in the past two post-war years, to ensure an early return of normalcy to the Northern Province.

Sri Lankan forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam this month two years ago.

While some longer gestation projects such as permanent houses for the people of the Northern Province are yet to gain momentum, many of the smaller India-propelled projects have ensured that the people who return to their hometowns and villages can begin rebuilding their lives.

The first issue after the conclusion of the war in 2009 was to resettle the internally displaced persons (IDPs). Once the Sri Lankan government took a policy decision to resettle IDPs — with considerable inputs from India and the donor community — India provided four million sheets of roofing (roughly 12 sheets for a house) and 40,000 tonnes of cement (eight bags for a unit). The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) handled the programme.

Agricultural implements

One example to demonstrate the kind of ground work that has gone into the assistance is the distribution of agricultural implements. India provided 95,000 family packs of basic agricultural implements valued at $3.2 million (distributed through the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees; it was the single largest contribution to the U.N. body) so that people could start low-scale agricultural work. Reports from the field indicate that the project was a lifesaver and of great help to the resettled people.

Last year, India also supplied 500 tractors for use in the north. As many as 75 buses were provided to tide over shortage of vehicles.

Another focus area has been skill development for youth. The government, working through the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, has completed building a vocational training centre in the Muslim-dominated Puttalam. Another two such centres will be upgraded with Indian help in Batticaloa.

India has now also taken up a major project to renovate 100 schools in the Kilinochchi-Mullaitivu area.

Medical aid

Part of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital has been refurbished at a cost of $1.1 million. In the east, the Eastern University's Ayush faculty will benefit from Indian collaboration and medical equipment. The Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu hospitals too will be refurbished by India.

The Jaipur foot and limb has ensured that people return to making a livelihood despite the loss of limbs. So far, India has supplied 1,400 limbs. India has also begun construction of a 150-bed hospital in Dickoya to cater to the hill districts.

Of the longer gestation projects, work on the Northern Railway line is progressing, after the de-mining team completed its work and handed over the 107-km stretch of railway alignment from Medawachchiya to Talaimannar. Seven Indian de-mining teams are working to clear more areas in the north.

The Sri Lankan Cabinet recently approved the handing over of the Kankesanthurai port, to be developed by India. Fishing equipment and boats have been given to Tamil fishermen to recommence operations. Of this, 175 of the boats were distributed to Muslim IDPs in the west.

However, issues in reconciliation remain to be addressed. These include an answer to what happened to those who went missing in the final stages of the war. This would ensure families to get closure reports. Land rights and permanent housing for the rehabilitated remain the other main challenges.

In the long run, accountability for the actions in the final stages of the war and a political solution to serve the aspirations of the minority are also issues that need to be addressed. All these find mention in the joint statement released in New Delhi, which was signed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries.

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