'We Need to Lay Roots for Better Future', Says ADB President Chino
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (15 January 2005) - "We need to use this sad occasion to lay the roots for a better future for vulnerable communities," said ADB President Tadao Chino during a visit today to tsunami-affected areas in Sri Lanka. "ADB stands ready to provide support to Sri Lanka, and will assist the reconstruction effort with about $200 million in 2005."
He said this at a ceremony during which he turned over tractors and trailers to deliver drinkable water in Trincomalee in northeast Sri Lanka. From Trincomalee, Mr. Chino traveled across Koddiya Bay in a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter to visit a Muslim camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Mutur.
Some 700 camps for IDPs have been set up in the wake of the tsunami that struck coastal areas of much of South and Southeast Asia on 26 December.
The ADB President also visited Matara in the south, another area badly damaged by the tsunami. He was accompanied by the Minister of Port Development and Media, Mr. Mangala Samaraweera.
At a press conference at the Sri Lanka resident mission in Colombo, Mr. Chino reiterated that "ADB is committed to providing assistance effectively and in a timely fashion." He said ADB's commitment to Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Maldives stands at an initial $675 million and could be increased. This includes $500 million in new grants and highly concessional funds and $175 million in redirected funds, he added.
For Sri Lanka, up to $50 million can be quickly reprogrammed from existing operations, said Mr. Chino, emphasizing that the reprogramming will ensure that ongoing development efforts in key projects/programs are not adversely affected.
In new assistance, Mr. Chino said ADB is preparing emergency concessional assistance of between US$100 million and $150 million, some of this through grants, to be used for a variety of purposes. "We are seriously examining how these emergency grants may be expanded," he said.
During his visit, President Chino also met with the Prime Minister, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha, Minister of Finance, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, and other senior officials.
This week, ADB has been fielding needs assessment teams all over the country in close cooperation with the World Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. In consultation with the Sri Lankan Government, the United Nations, the private sector and civil society, the agencies will build upon, and deepen, an initial report prepared by the government.
ADB expects to be involved in several sectors, including transport, livelihood, housing, education and community development in coastal areas, says Alessandro Pio, country director of ADB's Sri Lanka resident mission.
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