Trade concessions in post conflict reconstruction, increased donor aid and a greater role for the private sector are crucial elements in encouraging investment and developing industries in Sri Lanka, according to the head of Sri Lanka First. Chairperson Neela Marikkar recently addressed the European Commission Conference in Brussels where she said trade concessions will help in creating jobs and encourage people to become direct stakeholders in the country’s economy.
Neela Marikkar |
During her presentation, Ms. Marikkar said the GSP+ concessions granted in 2005 have been put on notice regarding its renewal due to accusations of alleged non compliance by the state on human rights as a direct result of the war on terror that was being waged on Sri Lanka. However, she pointed out that the EU is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest export markets and if the concessions are withdrawn, over 3500 export items will be impacted affecting hundreds of thousands of jobs, especially among the masses, including job prospects for the conflict affected areas.
Ms. Marikkar pointed out that the private sector must be included in policy development in the post conflict phase in Sri Lanka in order to drive development and sustain peace. She urged donor countries to look to the private sector for partnership programmes as the private sector will work to ensure that economic growth goes hand in hand with social development.
Ms. Marikkar also stressed the need for aid for the development of much needed infrastructure, especially in the war torn areas. “We are seeing this happening in the Eastern region which until recently was a conflict region, previously isolated for decades with virtually zero development but is seeing a huge economic resurgence with building of roads and bridges connecting people and towns to markets. A similar plan is being drawn up for the Northern regions with a fast return to a democratic governance and post conflict reconstruction.” She added that where there is economic prosperity, there is little desire to return to conflict.
Addressing the notion of Sri Lanka as a ‘fragile’ state in which ‘the social contract between the state and its citizens is broken’, Ms. Marikakr’s presentation included strong factual representations, citing the country’s excellent literacy rate, gender ranking, health care facilities, including one of the lowest infant mortality rates in Asia, and labour compliance.
She also said 2009 is the national year of English and IT – a promise to take the advantages of IT to rural communities across the island and promote English as the link language.” |
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