News from Sri Lanka: March 2012
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NEWS FROM www.adb.org/slrm [email protected] Sri Lanka March 2012 A Newsletter of the Sri Lanka Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank V P Venkatachalam Visits Sri Lanka sian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President (Private Sector and Cofinancing Operations), A Lakshmi Venkatachalam visited Sri Lanka from 14-16 March 2011, where she met with Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, top government officials and private sector representatives. During her visit, Ms. Venkatachalam held discussions with several government ministers including Basil Rajapaksa Minister of Economic Development, Dr Sarath Amunugama, Minister of International Monetary Cooperation, Prof. MEETING WITH PRESIDENT From Left, Country Director SLRM, Rita O’ Sullivan. ADB Tissa Vitharana Minister of Science and VP, Lakshmi Venkatachalam, Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister of Technology and, Secretary to the Treasury International Monetary Cooperation, Dr. Sarath Amunugama. Dr. P B Jayasundera. The VP had consultations with the Ms. Venkatachalam leads ADB’s private sector development and private private sector including chambers of initiatives in Private Sector and Cofinancing sector operations are targeted to reach 50% commerce. She also addressed development activities. Under its long-term Strategy of its annual operations by 2020. partners and visited a nanotechnology 2020 Framework, ADB’s activities in park. Senior advisor to the VP, Shantanu Chakraborty, was also present. In this issue VP Venkatachalam visits Sri Lanka 1 Review of Sri Lanka Country Portfolio Review of Sri Lanka Country review of ADB’s country Portfolio 1 ADB AusAid South Asia portfolio was held from 21- Development Partnership on 22 March 2012. Projects were Governance 2 reviewed jointly by the ADB and Launch of Sri Lanka Rubber A Secretariat 2 the Department of Project Management & Monitoring of the Ministry of Finance and SLRM - OAI anti corruption and Planning. The Departments of National integrity workshops 2 ADB AusAid Workshop on Gender Planning and External Resources together & Urban Poverty in South Asia 3 with representatives of relevant executing South Asia Tourism Working and implementing agencies participated. Group launches website 3 SLRM staff led by Country Director, Head News Brief 4 New Staff at SLRM 4 of Portfolio Management Unit (PMU) Ms CPRM IN PROGRESS ADB and the Candice McDeigan and Lead Development Department of Project Management & Effectiveness Specialist (SARD) Hans Monitoring in consultation. In this publication, $ refers to US dollar Carlsson attended ADB AusAid South Asia Development Partnership Governance Subproject Solicitor General and ADB Governance Consultant Harsha Fernando. On 18-19 February a workshop LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT titled ‘A Capacity FINANCING from left Attorney General Sri Lanka, Eva Building Initiative Wanasundara, Ashraf Mohammed Assistant General Counsel, ANTI CORRUPTION SEMINAR Geneviev for the Officers of the Asian Development Bank and Minneh M Kane, Lead Counsel - Abel, Senior Integrity Specialist of OAI South Asia Group , World Bank addressing the gathering. Attorney General’s addresses the officers of Sri Lanka’s Departments Anti Bribery Commission Director SLRM made the opening remarks (Civil Division) and the Legal Affairs n 13 February 2012 over and the program was conducted by Ms Department of the Ministry of Finance 50 officers attached to the Geneviev Abel of ADB’s Office of the and Planning was held. Country Director Bribery Commission of Sri Anti Corruption and Integrity (OAI). A SLRM made opening remarks and this O Lanka attended a workshop panel discussion followed. The panel session was facilitated by Ms Abel and titled ‘Anti Corruption and Development consisted Chairman and Commissioners Ashraf Mohammed of ADB, and Ms Projects - ADB’s Approach’. Country of the Anti Bribery Commission, the Minneh M Kane of the World Bank. Sri Lanka Rubber Secretariat under City Cluster Economic Development Phase III The ceremonial opening of Sri Lanka ADDRESSING THE Rubber Secretariat and Launch of City Cluster AUDIENCE Lakna Economic Development (CCED) Phase III Paranawithana, Chief was held on 19March 2012. Australian High Advisor & Team Leader for CCED, speaks of the Commissioner H.E. Robyn Mudy was the importance of the rubber Chief Guest and CD SLRM Rita O’ Sullivan sector in Sri Lanka . made opening remarks at the event attended by Sudharma Karunaratne, Secretary Ministry of INAUGURATION From left Lakna Paranawithana, Chief Advisor & Plantation Industries. Members of Sri Lanka Sudharma Karunaratne Secretary Society of Rubber Industry, government Ministry of Plantations Industries, Team Leader for CCED, urged all industry officials, AusAID-ADB Review Mission Robyn Mudy Australian High stakeholders, both in the government and members, project consultants and media were Commissioner, W T Ellawala private sector to work in collaboration to also present. This program also falls under Chairman, Sri Lanka Society of build a more dynamic and functional rubber Rubber Industry, and Rita O’Sullivan, industry cluster and explore its full potential ADB AusAID South Asia Development Country Director SLRM. Partnership. using CCED technical assistance. SLRM - OAI Anti Corruption and Integrity Workshops in Colombo and Jaffna SLRM and OAI jointly organised the workshops on 14 March in Colombo and on 16 March in Jaffna. Candice Mcdeigan, Head Project Management Unit made the opening remarks, Country Director Rita O’Sullivan made the key note address and officials of the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities also WORKSHOPS IN PROGRESS Sarath Muthugala(Left) Procurement addressed the audience.These seminars aim to reduce the risks Specialist SLRM speaks, Ms Geneviev Abel (middle) and part of the of fraud and corruption in selected ADB-financed projects by audience in Jaffna. increasing the understanding of ADB’s anti -corruption policy. Ms Geneviev Abel of OAI facilitated the programs. agencies attended. These ADB Anticorruption Seminars are Project Staff, and representatives of executing and implementing facilitated under a regional technical assistance. RETA 6447 2 ADB AusAid Workshop on Gender & Urban Poverty in South Asia THE PARTICIPANTS The workshop was the second in a series of South Asia sub-regional learning events to be conducted under a Regional Technical Assistance project supported by the AusAID - ADB South Asia Development Partnership Facility ver 70 Government, civil society Director ADB, welcomed the participants second in a series of South Asia sub- representatives and ADB staff on behalf of ADB regional learning events conducted under from South Asia concluded a Mr Janaka Kurukulasuriya , Additional a Regional Technical Assistance project O three-day workshop sharing Secretary (Urban Development), Ministry supported by the AusAID - ADB South good practices for gender-inclusive urban of Defence and Urban Development made Asia Development Partnership Facility. development and improved access and affordability of urban services. The need the Government of Sri Lanka welcome The workshop showcased new for strengthening PPP approaches and address. practices in urban development projects systematic monitoring of gender results Nirupama Rajapaksa, Deputy which benefit the poor (learned from the were also identified as key priorities. The Minister, Ministry of Water Supply and implementation of ADB funded projects workshop was held in Colombo on 26-28 Drainage made the keynote address and Ms that deliver successful gender equality March. Sumithra Rahubadda, Secretary, Ministry results) and enhanced the gender and The High Commissioner for Australia, of Child Development and Women’s development capacity of project staff H.E. Robyn Mudy was the Chief Guest. Mr Empowerment made the opening remarks Gender equity is one of ADB’s key Sangay Penjor, OIC of ADB’s South Asia on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka focus areas. ADB is on track to having 40% Urban Development and Water Division (GOSL). Officials from Bangladesh, of its sovereign projects promoting gender (SAUW) made the welcome address for Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri equality and women’s empowerment by ADB, while Ms Rita O’Sullivan , Country Lanka participated. The workshop is the end 2012. South Asia Tourism Working Group launches website he South Asia Tourism Working tourism coordination office Group on 15 March 2012 launched to be based on a new regional a joint tourism promotion effort in tourism action plan for 2011 Sri Lanka. The member countries to 2015. The action plan T hopes to provide a strategy conducted a two day workshop . This endevour is expected to boost the marketing for developing, promoting of natural, cultural and historic tourist and managing sustainable attractions across South Asia. Members of tourist attractions, including the tourism working group, set up under Buddhist heritage trails, as the South Asia Sub regional Economic well as activities such as eco- AT THE LAUNCH From left to right Minister of Cooperation (SASEC) program, who and adventure tourism. Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa, Country met in Colombo, also discussed the new Director SLRM, Rita O’Sullivan 3 News Brief New Staff at SLRM Tadateru Hayashi persons participated, including project joined SLRM in January staff and representatives of Irrigation 2012 as a Senior Country Department, Water Board, Divisional Economist. Prior to this Secretariat and Provincial Council. The appointment,