Sri Lanka It's Happening

June 3, 2004

Last year around this time, donor countries pledged around 4.5 billion dollars of funding for Sri Lanka. When it happened the PA (now the UPFA) was in opposition. They were highly critical of the UNF for securing this aid package. The package came with strings attached, the UPFA looks like they are about to cut off the strings.

There's no doubt that being indebted to another country isn't always the best position to be in, but then again if Sri Lanka doesn't get new loans, it cannot payback the old ones. That's just the tip of the iceberg, no aid means no funds for any of the ongoing development work. The country could spiral into a totall economic disaster in months.

The funding was closely tied to the peace process - in short no peace, no money. The PA then in oppposition did everything they could to destablise the process, now in government they are making a pathetic effort to reviwe it but they look as sincere as a miss world contestent talking about wanting world peace.

For their part the LTTE is playing hard to get. They know that Europe and North America no longer has the same drive for terrorist hunting. That means one of the major factors that drove the LTTE to the discussions have been eliminated.

Posted by raditha at June 3, 2004 10:03 AM