On the Ground Issue 19; Sep-Oct-Nov-2012 Contributors Azra Abdul-Cader | Zoe Keeler | Muradh Mohideen | Angela Perinpanayagam | Madhushala Senaratne Inside this issue: Visit of Mr. Ajay Chhibber | Launch of the Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012 | An interview with Mr. Fredrick Abeyratne | Discussion with Women’s Parliamentary Caucus | Follow us on Residential student camp ‘On the Ground’ is a bi- monthly newsletter produced by: Communications Unit UNDP Sri Lanka, 202-204, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94-11-2580691 (367) Overcoming disparities [email protected] through collective initiatives www.undp.lk Read more inside Issue 19; Sep-Oct-Nov2012 The visit of Mr. Ajay Chhibber, the UN Assistant Secretary General UNDP launches the Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012 and Director of UNDP’s Regional UNDP launched the Sri Lanka Human Development Bureau for Asia and the Pacific to Report 2012 on October 5, 2012, in the presence Sri Lanka of Hon. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister for Mr. Ajay Chhibber, the UN Assistant Secretary Monetary Co-operation and Mr. Ajay Chhibber, General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director the visiting UN Assistant Secretary General, UNDP of Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and Chair, Assistant Administrator and Director of Regional UN Regional Director’s Team, Asia and the Pacific Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and Chair, UN visited Sri Lanka from 4 to 6 October. Regional Director’s Team, Asia and the Pacific. During the visit, Mr. Chhibber met and exchanged Titled, ‘Bridging Regional Disparities for Human views with high-level Government officials, Development’, this is the second National Human including with Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Meeting with Hon. Minister Basil Rajapaksa Development Report (NHDR) for Sri Lanka, with Economic Development, Hon. G. J. L. Neomal Perera, the first Report having been produced more than a decade ago in 1998. The 2012 NHDR examines Acting Minister of External Affairs, Hon. Mahinda “Sri Lanka has led the way in performance in human Mr. Subinay Nandy, Mr. Ajay Chhibber, Hon. Minister Sarath the social and economic disparities across Sri Amaraweera, Minister of Disaster Management and development indicators, and my hope is that it can Amunugama, Mr. W. D. Lakshman, Chairman, IPS and Ms. Nisha Lanka’s geographic regions. It assesses the health, Arunathilaka, lead author of the Report during the launch Hon. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Minister of National once again show the region the way forward on the education, employment and governance sectors, Languages and Social Integration. The development issue of how to address growth and inequality, along and puts forth a set of policy recommendations to human development and addressing inequities priorities of Sri Lanka as well as the UN’s and UNDP’s with addressing the challenges of reconciliation for help overcome gaps, enabling Sri Lanka’s people at this point in Sri Lanka’s history, is extremely role in the country’s changing context we outlined durable peace,” said Mr. Chhibber. during these discussions. Mr. Chhibber also met to contribute to and participate in its overall timely.” with Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Treasury, During his visit, Mr. Chhibber also engaged in a socio-economic progress. Commenting on the significance of the Report, Ministry of Finance and Planning and witnessed the round table discussion with eminent economists and Mr. Subinay Nandy, UN Resident Coordinator formal signing of the United Nations Development representatives from think tanks on policy support Noting that the Report will be a useful input and UNDP Resident Representative, stated, “I Assistance Framework for 2013-2017. options within Sri Lanka’s development context, for the National Budget for 2013 that the believe this NHDR will serve as the foundation and with a cross-section of women leaders from the Government is currently formulating, Hon. for joint Government and development partner A highlight of the visit was the launch of the Sri Lanka political, civil society, academic and corporate sectors Minister Amunugama stated, “The nature of engagement, bolstering the collaboration so Human Development Report 2012, on 5 October where issues pertaining to women in Sri Lanka were poverty reduction is undergoing rapid changes. essential to addressing regional disparities and 2012, titled, ‘Bridging Regional Disparities for Human discussed. We need to seize the opportunity in a bold way, Development’. With UNDP in Sri Lanka gradually and create opportunities so that a new class of targeting vulnerable and disadvantaged groups”. shifting focus to look at issues of regional disparities On the final day of his visit, Mr. Chhibber undertook people will take charge, and be able to transform and socio-economic inequalities across the country a visit to Jaffna, where he held discussions with the the Sri Lankan economy”. The research and analysis of the Report was and promoting multi-stakeholder approaches to Regional Human Rights Commission and civil society conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies, Sri policy advocacy and reform, this Report comes at a representatives, followed by a meeting with the Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Ajay Chhibber Lanka. Key findings of the Report were presented significant juncture, explained Mr. Chhibber. Government Agent of Jaffna and a visit to a UNDP expressed his views that, “If Sri Lanka is to achieve by Dr. Nisha Arunathilaka, the lead author of the livelihood development project. He was briefed its full potential moving forward, it is necessary to Report. Four eminent speakers, Prof. Kshanika about the recovery and development priorities in look at the dynamics of growth and development Hirimburegama, Vice Chancellor, University the District, about UNDP’s work in the areas of local across the country and of Colombo, Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Additional governance, mine action, access to justice, socio- across different segments Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Anura Ekanayake, economic recovery and disaster risk management, and of the population. Bridging Immediate Past Chairman, Ceylon Chamber also heard about challenges that still remain in the regional disparities for of Commerce and Prof. Savithri Goonesekere, domain of reconciliation and bringing peace dividends Former Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo to the people. Allocation of land and job creation were reviewed the education, health, employment and highlighted as key issues that needed greater attention. governance aspects, respectively. For more information on the visit, watch: The full Report is available at: http:// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEXsPdL- www.undp.lk/Undp%20Documents/ During the visit to the livelihood development project site in -5M&feature=youtu.be Sri%20Lanka%20Human%20Develop- Jaffna ment%20Report%202012.pdf On the Ground 2 1 On the Ground Issue 19; Sep-Oct-Nov-2012 An interview with Mr. Fredrick Abeyratne Discussion with the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus on On October 31, 2012, Fredrick Abeyratne, fond- Tell us about your experiences with UNDP? Women, Peace and Security ly referred to as Fred, Team Leader of UNDP’s Well, it’s a fairly long journey; it’s almost two-thirds Poverty Cluster, retired after 21 years of service of my career. Over the years, I had the opportunity On the morning of Friday 21 September, 8 Members with UNDP. to act in various capacities which helped me ac- of Parliament from the Women’s Parliamentary quire a lot of knowledge. I was a team leader of Caucus and several of their colleagues from One of the long-standing staff members of several teams, including Poverty, Governance, as Parliament joined UNDP and several civil society UNDP Sri Lanka, he joined the organization in well as the North East Rehabilitation Programme. partners for a half day session to explore issues and January 1992 as a National Programme Officer, I worked in the Environmental programme as well. ideas related to women, peace and security. The and thereafter went on to act in various capaci- On top of that I was the focal point for various ar- event was supported by UNDP’s regional N-Peace ties. He served as the team leader of several eas, like HIV Aids, ICT, aid coordination and private network. teams, including in Poverty, Governance, as well sector development. I was also the Learning Man- as the North East Rehabilitation Programme. ager and at one Taking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 as the One time, the Learning Manager and the United time, during UN starting point, the event looked at the resolution’s Nations Information Officer, Fred boasts of vast 50 celebrations, relevance to Sri Lanka and in particular how the experiences and knowledge. In all his work, Fred I was the United Parliamentarians can promote the participation of Meanwhile, Deshabandu Jezima Ismail, Commissioner showed commitment, passion and strength. Nations Informa- women and the inclusion of gender perspectives in of the Human Rights Commission and Civil Society tion Officer. All post-conflict peacebuilding and governance. representative encouraged the Caucus to establish a Fred took time to share his experiences with this gave me a lot structured mechanism for regular dialogue on these us on UNDP’s work over the years, some of his of experience and Highlights of the morning included an illustration and similar issues, and then went on to speak about fondest memories, his love for research and helped me gain by Professor Savitri Goonesekere of the many the importance of women’s economic empowerment his future plans. In addition, he also left some a lot of knowl- provisions included in the Sri Lanka Constitution, as a key to recovery and peacebuilding. In terms words of advice for colleagues. edge... national laws and policies that address issues related of next steps, the MPs expressed willingness to At the launch of the Sri Lanka Human Development to women, peace and security. Linked to current work collectively through the Caucus to promote Report 2012 policy discussions, the MPs especially appreciated implementation of national commitments linked to What is the best thing about working here/any the Professor’s identification of commitments in women, peace and security.