Sri Lanka armed with an ambitious plan to rebuild the nation after the tsunami disaster has got off to a quick start to restore normalcy.
The government however does not hope to stop at reconstruction and instead is looking forward to taking the opportunity to modernise the affected areas by building new ports and an electrical railway system and setting up industrial estates.
The plan unveiled last week is to be implemented in a three-year period under a three-phased programme in the 12 districts hit by the tsunami and is estimated to cost a staggering $3.4 billion (Dh12.4 billion).
Colombo has worked out what it has identified as a "wish-list" and presented it to donors expecting more foreign aid, but may not be able to obtain support for all them.
The tsunami claimed as many as 40,000 lives, left one million homeless and injured 15,000 others, marking the worst ever natural disaster the country has faced.
The main body handling the programme to rebuild the nation the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation has expressed confidence in finding the required aid, despite the pledges less than the original targets, but it will all depend on how the government manages the available funds.
Officials say they expect $500 million (Dh1.83 billion) this year through foreign loans and grants but were unable to give a breakdown.
Estimates indicate nearly 40 per cent of the expenditure is for new projects, instead of making use of all these funds to restore normalcy.
"We are getting aid as the international community has been moved by the scenes they have seen on television, but it is likely they will decide on further aid depending on how we manage the assistance that has already been provided," says an official involved in rehabilitation.
Political parties remain divided whether the government should take this opportunity to concentrate on long term development projects or concentrate only on the immediate assistance to restore normalcy. "We may be asking for too much if we try to ask for aid for long term development programmes instead of looking at a short term plan to rebuild the lives of the affected persons," Parliamentarian of the United National Party (UNP) Tissa Attanayake told Gulf News.
The UNP led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has presented its plans for consideration to President Chandrika Kumaratunga and their main focus has been rehabilitation work within the next six months.
Kumaratunga has called for opposition support and told them to shed political differences and unite in rebuilding the nation, but practically no serious efforts were being taken to obtain the support of opposition parties or even the main coalition partner, the Marxists JVP, within the government.
Soon after the disaster one of the main concerns of local health authorities was fear of the outbreak of diseases but the health situation has been one of the best managed aspects in the month since the tsunami struck.
Nearly half a million tsunami victims are still languishing in refugee camps and at least 11 main hospitals along the coastal belt have been badly damaged, but the outbreak of disease has been kept well under control in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Local medical teams, backed by international health teams and a range of medical facilities and medicines provided by foreign governments and organisations, have all contributed to maintain high health standards, preventing the outbreak of any disease.
Local and foreign medical teams continue to provide their support to almost all parts hit by the tsunami and have pledged to continue for several weeks ahead.
"Except for some respiratory problems, diarrhoea and routine mild illnesses, there have been no reports of anything very serious," Dr Paba Palihawadana, Deputy Epidemiologist, Epidemiology Unit, of the Health Ministry, said.
Gulf News
