Progress in Govt's tsunami recovery efforts : Premier

 

The 'Report on Tsunami People's Consultations', a document reflecting the views, needs and aspirations of Sri Lankans affected by the tsunami was launched on Thursday.

The report is based on a three month consultation process carried out by the Disaster Relief Monitoring Unit (DRMU) of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in tsunami affected areas with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and five Sri Lankan universities.

The consultation programme covered 13 districts, 51 divisional secretariat divisions, 751 Grama Niladhari divisions and 800 villages affected by the Boxing Day tsunami.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake addressing the ceremonial launch of the report at the BMICH, said the report was important because it indicates the commitment to engage in a serious dialogue with the Nation's tsunami affected.

"On December 26, 2004, Sri Lanka experienced the worst natural disaster in her living memory. The destruction caused by the tsunami to the human population and property was enormous. This document reflects the views of the persons so affected and their perspectives of the various problems they are facing," he said.

The Prime Minister said there has been progress in the Government's efforts to rehabilitate and reconstruct persons and property affected by the tsunami in the year following the disaster.

"We have formulated the legal framework by passing the Tsunami and Disaster Management Acts in Parliament. On the other hand the executive has established a separate Ministry for Disaster Management".

 
 
 
  UNDP Deputy Director Sanaka Samaratunga said Sri Lanka is the only country to have carried out a consultation process with people affected by the tsunami.

"Although Sri Lanka received a lot of assistance in the aftermath of the tsunami, the people affected by the disaster sometimes did not get what they actually needed. The consultation process was aimed at communicating with the affected and providing and obtaining information about their needs," he said.

Samaratunga said they would use the information to advocate and lobby for the rights of the tsunami affected as well as provide them with the capacity to claim their rights.
HRC Chairperson Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, UNDP Country Director Abu Saleem and DRMU Chairman Lionel Fernando were present.