Economic growth redevelopment critical for peace – Jaliya

Sri Lanka’s continued economic expansion, job creation and redevelopment are central to the effort to sustain lasting peace nearly two years after the defeat of terrorism, according to Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States.

Speaking at an Asia Society breakfast meeting, Ambassador Wickramasuriya noted that “peace is the ultimate human right,” and “without it nations can’t prosper and citizens can’t be happy. Our view is that economic growth and prosperity will continue to guarantee post-conflict stability.”

The breakfast forum was moderated by Teresita Schaffer, who served at US Ambassador to Sri Lanka in the mid-1990s. She raised questions about the criticism of Sri Lanka’s military tactics as it defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam terrorist group in May 2009.

Ambassador Wickramasuriya explained that the LTTE was holding civilians as human shields and that Sri Lankan troops moved slowly into LTTE-held areas to prevent casualties and also to open up escape paths for the civilians. Eventually about 300,000 civilians escaped from the LTTE.

“How we did the conflict, the end of the conflict, was a model for the whole world,” the Ambassador said. “The President’s instruction to the forces was, ‘I need to eliminate this terrorist group, but please make sure of a zero (civilian) casualty rate.’ We knew where the leader was. We did not want to harm civilians. That was the last few days of the war. About 300,000 people escaped.”

Most of the Asia Society discussion focused on Sri Lanka’s economy, which has shown eight per cent GDP growth just two years after the conflict, despite the global economic downturn.

Foreign investment in Sri Lanka should top $1 billion in 2011, according to Sri Lanka’s Central Bank.

“Last month I accompanied nine US companies to Sri Lanka so they could explore investment opportunities there. These companies included the likes of Boeing, John Deere and Coca-Cola, Transinnova, AGL Partners and Venture Global Partners. Starwood Hotels, Hilton and Marriott have all shown renewed interest in Sri Lanka and are currently scouting sites both in Colombo and for resort properties.”

Tourism has rebounded with a 48 per cent increase in 2010 compared to 2009, the Ambassador said. That amounted to about 650,000 visitors last year.