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The new World Bank Country Assistance Strategy for Sri Lanka was discussed at a workshop held October 6, 2008 where its emphasis on participation by communities across the island was welcomed as critical to achieving equitable development.
The new strategy, prepared in broad consultation with Sri Lankan communities, will guide the development institution's work from 2009 to 2012. Its main strategic objectives are threefold. The first is to create opportunities for equitable growth and economic development, especially in lagging regions of the country. The second is to help Sri Lanka accelerate economic growth by fostering a competitive investment climate and the third is to help the country ensure that service delivery is effective and accountable to citizens.
A new feature of the strategy is a "conflict filter" designed to help the World Bank ensure that its support to the government is insulated from possible distortions by the ongoing conflict. Just as important, opportunities to address the causes and consequences of conflict will be proactively identified during the implementation of the strategy.
The discussion on helping lagging regions picked up strongly on the theme of community participation, empowerment and ownership of development efforts. Speakers cautioned the Bank to remember the lessons of the Integrated Rural Development projects of the '80s and early '90s where supply-driven rural infrastructure was doomed to become unsustainable as there was little or no local ownership. The need to involve local communities and local political leaders in development decisions, particularly in the North and East, was emphasized during this session.
The workshop agreed that improving the investment climate and competitiveness was critical for growth and poverty reduction. Efforts to boost competitiveness should focus on areas like public infrastructure, targeted support to key sectors like small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), ICT and tourism and a stronger framework for public-private partnerships.
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