Reconstruction aid should not be used for war

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 January 2000, 12:53 GMT]
An appeal has been made to the visiting World Bank representatives to Trincomalee that the foreign donor agencies should ensure that the money given by them for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected villages in the Tamil areas be utilised for that specific purpose and not for purchasing weapons to continue the war.

Representatives of the non-governmental organisations in Trincomalee district made this appeal to the visiting World Bank officials participating in a one-day workshop held yesterday at Seven Islands Hotel.

World Bank officials are on a mission to study the needs of the war torn North-east province.

The Consortium of the Non Governmental Organisations in Trincomalee district organised the workshop, sponsored by the World Bank, United Nations Development Program and E.R.D. on the initiatives of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies in Colombo.

The purpose of the workshop was to identify the problems faced by the people in Trincomalee district and to develop a framework for Relief, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, said Mr. T. Thavasilingam, Chairman of the Consortium in his opening address.

The World Bank team comprised Ms Patricia Cleves, Social Scientist attached to the Post-Conflict unit of the Social Development Department and Mr. Kenneth D. Bush, Consultant.

Attorney-at-Law K. Sivapalan said that on the one hand the Government was spending money for rehabilitation and reconstruction of war torn areas and on the other hand millions of rupees were being spent to purchase weapons and war ships to continue the war.