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Stakeholders have to row the boat together to weather all storms, says UN expert
Visiting Assistant Secretary General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja believes that Sri Lanka taking credit lines from foreign governments and seeking IMF support need not be at odds.
Kanni Wignaraja
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times following a series of discussions with Sri Lankan political leaders during her official visit, Ms. Wignaraja says “taking diametrically opposing views on whether a credit line from India is good or an International Monetary Fund programme is bad are not black and white issues. They don’t need to be at odds with each other. How do you negotiate the best possible deal for Sri Lanka from the Chinese, the Indians and the IMF depends on the package, the policy prescriptions Sri lanka agrees to”.
She adds that this is all in the negotiating space – putting the best people both from the public and private sectors to look at what would be the best for Sri Lanka getting advice from multiple stakeholders.
Sri Lankan born Ms. Wignaraja also underscored the need for Sri Lanka to reap the peace dividend. “After 30 years of war, reconciliation cannot be put under the carpet. We cannot say it’s done. Matters of justice and reconciliation need to be addressed so that every Sri Lankan feels they belong, that they get a fair chance and a fair voice.” She also called for more women representation at the political level saying Sri Lankan women were only 5 per cent of women in Parliament and compared it to Rwanda that had 55 per cent.
Appreciating that all meetings with Sri Lankan leaders were “very positive” and hoped that it doesn’t stop there – as it is one thing to have good engagement but it is all about how to support actions when going forward, even if they are tough.
She holds out hope for Sri Lanka, when she says that “we are stronger than we think we are. Sri Lanka, which has had huge ups and downs, is more resilient than some may give it credit for. It is facing a triple tsunami – a massive pandemic, an economic crisis and a climate crisis.
“You can’t go forward without rowing the boat together. Agree to disagree and in the New Year, everyone (politicians of all hues, policymakers and people) needs to work together, give each other credit and rebuild trust and a sense of hope, as there is a deficit of trust.”
She met president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa; Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena; Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa; Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa; Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris; Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma; Jutice Minister Ali Sabry; and several ministry secretaries and donor representatives including from the European Union, Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, Australia, Norway, Germany, Netherlands and France.
(Please see Ms. Wignaraja’s profile in the PLUS Cover page).
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