101607

Address to the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri
Lanka


by
James D. Wolfensohn
 President
 The World Bank
 Tokyo, Japan, June 10, 2003

Mr. Wolfensohn addressed the conference via video

I am extremely happy to be here at this Tokyo Conference on
Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka, and only regret that I can
not be with you personally to participate in these meetings in the
distinguished presence of the Prime Minister of Japan and the Prime
Minister of Sri Lanka.

The World Bank is, I must say, incredibly anxious and incredibly
supportive in these current efforts of the Sri Lankan people to regain
their country and to follow the vision and strategy of which they have
set out for their future. After 20 years of conflict and with 15 months
of a cease-fire, we now look forward to doing everything we can to assist
the government and the people of all parts of the country to achieve both
the peace and the development that is the due of this country.

I remember in my days as a student, working with Sri Lankan students in
Australia. And I formed a deep affection for the country, for its
history, for its culture and for its enormous potential. And so it's
with great personal pride that I am happy to note that my colleagues in
the institution have been called on to work with the authorities in an
assessment of the needs of the country, and in particular for the North
East and that we have been entrusted in working on the details of the
administration of the North East Reconstruction Fund.

Let me say that the issue of peace is closely tied with the issue of
economic development. It is also closely tied with the issue of equity,
with the issue of social justice, with the issue of combating poverty.
And wherever we are in the world we find that this interrelationship
between peace and development is one that becomes more and more true, and
more and more apparent.

What we are doing here at this meeting today is coming together to
provide the resources-both human and financial-to assist the Sri Lankan
authorities in their pursuit of economic and social justice. It is of
course for the two sides to decide on peace-a peace which is so necessary
to all the citizens of Sri Lanka. But we have the opportunity to
participate in a supportive way by providing the human capital and the
financial capital to this remarkable country and this remarkable people.

We ourselves will be engaged in activities throughout the country and we
know that many of you donors that are here have already had a long
history-and although sometimes interrupted-have a deep interest in the
future of the country. Today is a good start for all of us.

We are thrilled that the Government of Japan is acting as the host for
this meeting. And we look forward to working with you in the years ahead
in the reconstruction of the whole of the country, in particular in terms
of the trust fund in work in the North East and especially to work with
all the Sri Lankan people for an atmosphere of equity, of social justice
and one that is geared to fighting poverty and with that building peace.