Sri Lankan opposition said on Thursday that Kumaratunga government had failed to extract aid from foreign donors who wanted it to improve its human rights’ record and ensure cleaner elections in the country. The main Opposition United National Party (UNP) said that Sri Lanka's aid community had for the first time withheld announcing the quantum of foreign assistance that will be extended next year.
“The Paris aid group meeting which closed on Thursday was a disaster for the government,” UNP Legislator Karunasena Kodituwakku claimed, and said that the presence of President Kumaratunga in Paris failed to impress the donor community. He said, “Kumaratunga had also received a snubbing from British Prime Minister Tony Blair who refused to receive her during her visit to Britain just before attending the Paris aid group meeting.” Though the Sri Lankan government insisted that no aid promises were expected at the Paris meeting arranged by the World Bank, UNP said it had been customary for the group to make a pledge after the meeting. “This time they did not pledge any money because they want the Government to show results after taking effective steps to protect democracy, especially after the recent elections which were the worst in the past century,” Kodituwakki said.
Bureau Report