Friday, 30 May 2014 00:45
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USAID to ‘reduce footprint’ in Sri Lanka
Aid agencies say ‘difficult political space to operate’
Strategic funding focus on promoting democracy, human rights and rule of law in SL
US assistance for Lanka dips from $ 168 m in 2012 to 46 m in 2013
By Dharisha Bastians
With aid agencies noting the shrinking political space to operate and Washington leading an international push for accountability for the last phase of the war, the United States’ financial assistance to Sri Lanka will focus on democracy, rule of law and human rights going forward, a report said.
US funding assistance for Sri Lanka has dipped sharply in 2013, except in the democracy, human rights and governance and peace and security sectors, with the State Department and funding agencies affirming that there has been little movement on reconciliation and accountability in the island.
USAID Acting Assistant Administrator Denise Rollins told the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific last month that the agency was increasing investment directly to local organisations, because of what she called the ‘progressively difficult political space’ that was limiting the ability to carry out their programs.
“Given these realities, and USAID’s aggressive focusing of resources in countries with the most need and where we can have the most sustainable impact, USAID is planning to reduce our footprint in Sri Lanka,” Rollins said in an 30 April statement before the Sub Committee.
Rollins said USAID’s democracy and vulnerable populations programs in Sri Lanka will continue to focus on reconciliation and defending civil liberties.
Funding to Sri Lanka from all US Government agencies has dropped from $ 151.6 million in 2011 and $ 168.3 million in 2012, to $ 46.6 million in the last fiscal year (2013), a website dedicated to providing a view of US Government foreign assistance funds has reported.
The bulk of this spending ($ 20 million) has gone towards economic development projects in the island, especially infrastructure, but the figure is down sharply from $ 114.2 in 2012.
The US Government funding strategy as articulated by the US State Department and USAID in Sri Lanka in an assessment for the US Congress will focus on protecting “democracy, rule of law, and human rights country-wide”.
The priorities resonate in the funding figures, with US agencies spending $ 4.3 million on democracy, human rights and governance programs, compared with $ 3.5 million in 2012 and 1.3 million in 2011. In 2012 and 2013, the US Government has also increased spending in the peace and security sector, providing $ 12.1 million and $ 11.3 million for conflict mitigation and reconciliation projects, security sector reform and stabilisation operations compared with $ 5.5 million in 2011.
With regard to security spending, the US Government presently has restrictions on its engagement with the Sri Lankan Air Force and Sri Lankan Army, with the exception of humanitarian de-mining work, a US Embassy Spokesperson told the Daily FT. However, the United States continues to work with the Sri Lanka Navy and Coastguard on maritime security, the Spokesperson said.
“It has been nearly five years since the end of Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war, and circumstances are more challenging than they were a year ago,” the US State Department and USAID said in its Sri Lanka assessment in the Congressional Budget Justification for the fiscal year 2015.
The assessment said that positions of many in the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamil populations have hardened. “Steps towards reconciliation are increasingly seen as a zero-sum game,” the US State Department and USAID claimed.
The assessment noted that the continuing centralisation of development and political activities by the Government of Sri Lanka may further alienate ethnic and religious minority communities.
It would also fuel “expanding fears over the Government’s commitment to equal political rights and civil liberties,” the State Department and USAID said.
Data source: www.foreignassistance.gov
