US Ambassador Replies to Tamilnet

by Ambassador Blake

I was disappointed to read on TamilNet criticism of the US Government's programmes to help stabilise and develop Eastern Sri Lanka. Since there is no mechanism to respond to TamilNet, I thought I would use the Embassy's blog to respond to some of the incorrect assertions in the TamilNet article.

US Ambassador Robert O’ Blake

First, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP asserts in the TamilNet article that Washington's purpose in our programmes for the east is to, "help Colombo make majoritarian inroads into the east." This is incorrect. We have specifically established the goal of fostering economic development, good governance and stability while preserving the existing ethnic balance in the east.

It is well known that the east is one of Sri Lanka's poorest provinces and that poverty and lack of adequate economic opportunity are principal drivers of conflict. One of the best ways to address such poverty is to establish programmes that will link new businesses in the East with the country's principal markets in the western and other parts of the country. Indeed, USAID's Connecting Regional Economies programme in the East has five goals: *

First: Support livelihood development for vulnerable populations;

Second: Promote the development of agriculture-based value chains;

Third: Ensure that groups in conflict-affected areas benefit from participation in these value chains and our other efforts;

Fourth: Implement a workforce development strategy; and finally promote a business enabling environment.

The Member of Parliament also alleges that U.S. development initiatives "take place through direct collaboration between the American agency and the ministries of Sri Lanka, sidelining the provincial council." This also is incorrect. While we of course coordinate with the Central Government as we would in any country, none of our money goes through the Central Government. Rather, it goes directly to U.S. and/or Sri Lankan organisations working in the east to implement our programmes.

Furthermore, one of the goals of our "Supporting Regional Governance" programme in the East is to improve the capacity and Governance of the Eastern Provincial Council and Local Government authorities. Specifically, this programme aims to support and facilitate increased citizen engagement in Regional and Local Government, strengthen inter-community reconciliation, and promote social equality by, for example, promoting citizen interaction with Government institutions, and strengthening the capacity of journalists and media outlets in the East.

Lastly, the MP alleges that America's programme in the east will only "add to the ethnic conflict in the island."

He says "meaningful development of the east can take place only after a substantial political solution to the Tamil national question." We agree that a political solution is necessary, but we do not agree that meaningful development can take place only after a political solution is agreed upon.

It is important to give the people of the east the opportunity now to obtain vocational training and sustainable private sector jobs. Such sustainable livelihood opportunities are an essential part of ensuring stability and development so that the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese communities in the East can rebuild their lives and cooperate with each other to help the East realize its potential.