Physical infrastructures were destroyed and livelihoods, particularly for the poor, suffered from the consequences of the armed conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The conflict devastated the northern and eastern provinces and adjacent areas. These sharply reduced the economic contribution of the region to national development, curbed outlays for social expenditures, discouraged investment, and stifled tourism. In February 2002, the government and the LTTE signed a cease-fire agreement and started to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict. Multilateral agencies including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) undertook a comprehensive assessment of relief
and reconstruction needs of the country’s most conflict-affected areas, primarily the eight districts of the northern and eastern provinces and the four adjacent districts.
Resumption of economic life and reestablishment of normal livelihood depended on the rehabilitation of key infrastructure facilities and restoration of communities. For instance, pavement surfaces in the road system deteriorated due to the conflict. In power transmission, 145 kilometers (km) of transmission line were destroyed and there was considerable damage to the power distribution system. Limited piped water was available in all major towns, except in Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu, where the water supply systems were completely destroyed. Irrigation schemes were in very poor condition due to the conflict and consequent abandonment of facilities. Problems in the education system such as non-enrollment, dropouts, absenteeism, and poor learning quality were aggravated as a consequence of displacement, poverty, and damaged infrastructure, among other things.
This report validates the completion report’s assessment of the project, which aimed to rehabilitate and reconstruct essential infrastructure, restore community livelihoods, support the ongoing peace process in Sri Lanka. IED overall assessment: Less than successful.