Tokyo, June 10: An international conference on rebuilding Sri Lanka wrapped up today with pledges of aid worth more than US$ 4.5 billion and a proposal by the Sri Lankan government to break a deadlock with rebels over who will administer the country's most war-ravaged region. More than 70 countries and international groups were represented at the two-day conference to raise money for reconstruction on the tropical island. The conference went forward even though peace talks to end a two-decade civil war remained on hold and Tamil rebels stayed home.
Japan, the Asian Development Bank and the European Union topped a list of donors who pledged grants and loans - including commitments announced before the conference - worth more than US$4.5 billion over the next four years, said Japan's chief delegate Yasushi Akashi.
A final statement, adopted today, said the generosity of the international community was contingent upon both sides making efforts to restart peace talks that were suspended seven weeks ago.
"Assistance by the donor community must be closely linked to substantial and parallel progress in the peace progress," it said.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam pulled out of the negotiations in April, accusing the government of not doing enough to rebuild the economy of Tamil areas in northeastern Sri Lanka, the scene of the heaviest fighting.
The Tamil rebels want to be put in charge of an interim administration that would have authority in the region until a final political settlement is reached.
Bureau Report