The Hindu : Fund to rebuild northeast to be kept outside Sri Lanka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 24, 2002

International

International

Fund to rebuild northeast to be kept outside Sri Lanka

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO NOV. 23. The Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have issued a joint appeal to the international community for financial assistance to rebuild the battle-scarred northeast.

The appeal, made just before Monday's high profile Oslo donors' conference, says that the finance collected through the international community will be held outside Sri Lanka in the form of a Northeast Reconstruction Fund (NERF) and audited by an internationally reputed firm.

The Government and the LTTE "shall cooperate in soliciting contributions to the NERF" which will be "vested with" a foreign country or international organisation "on behalf of the donors and the parties", the appeal said.

The funds will be released "upon request" from the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the north and east, which comprises members of the Government and the Tigers. If the sub-committee — which was agreed upon at the second session of talks between Colombo and the LTTE in Thailand — "ceases to function", the finance remaining in the NERF will be "reverted to the contributors on the basis of their initial contribution."

The first implication of this mechanism for channelling finance, agreed upon by Colombo and the Tigers, is that neither the Government nor the LTTE, yet to overcome mutual apprehensions, will be in control of the monies raised. Also, if the ongoing peace process is derailed, the much-required financial assistance will also cease.

Ranil leaves for Oslo

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, left for Oslo today for his first international appearance with the LTTE. On Monday, Mr. Wickremesinghe will make an appeal for international financial support for the peace process.

Along the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Wickremesinghe is scheduled to hold discussions with the LTTE's chief negotiator.

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