USAID head urges crisis-hit Sri Lanka to tackle corruption
USAID Administrator Samantha Power, right, speaks as US ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung watches during a media conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, September 11, 2022. (AP Photo / Eranga Jayawardena)
A visiting U.S. diplomat on Sunday urged Sri Lankan authorities to tackle corruption and introduce governance reforms alongside efforts to uplift the country’s economy as a way out of its worst crisis in recent memory.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power told reporters that such moves will increase international and local trust in the government’s intentions.
“Assistance alone would not put an end to this country’s woes,” Power said. “I stressed to the Sri Lankan president in my meeting earlier today that political reforms and political accountability must go hand in hand with economic reforms and economic accountability.”
She said that international investor confidence will increase as the government tackles corruption and proceeds with long sought governance reforms. “As citizens see the government visibly following through on the commitment to bring about meaningful change, that in turn increases societal support for the tough economic reforms ahead,” she said.
During her two-day visit, Power announced a total of $60 million in aid to Sri Lanka. After meetings with farmers’ representatives at a rice field in Ja-Ela, outside of the capital Colombo on Saturday, she announced $40 million to buy agrochemicals in time for the next cultivation season.
Agricultural yields dropped by more than half for the past two cultivation seasons because authorities had banned the imports of chemical fertilizers ostensibly to promote organic farming. She said that according to the World Food Program, more than 6 million people nearly 30% of Sri Lanka’s population are currently facing food insecurity and require humanitarian assistance.
On Sunday, she said an additional $20 million will be given to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to vulnerable families.
Sri Lanka has faced its worst crisis after it defaulted on foreign loans, causing shortages of essentials like fuel, medicines and some food items.
It has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a $2.9 billion package to be disbursed over four years. However, the program hinges on Sri Lanka’s international creditors giving assurances on loan restructuring. Sri Lanka’s total foreign debt is more than $51 billion of which $28 billion must be repaid by 2027.
Power said that the U.S. stands ready to assist with debt restructuring and reiterated that it is imperative that China, one of the island nation’s bigger creditors, cooperate in this endeavor.
Infrastructure like a seaport, airport and a network of highways built with Chinese funding did not earn revenue and are partly blamed for the country’s woes.
(AP)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters begin union action over unresolved issues October 30, 2024
- Johnston Fernando released on bail October 30, 2024
- Six foreign nationals arrested in Seeduwa for visa violations October 30, 2024
- Postal voting begins for Sri Lanka’s 2024 Parliamentary Election October 30, 2024
- Sri Lanka President outlines plans for economic independence and digital transformation October 29, 2024
To tackle corruption in Sri Lanka. Your joking aren’t you?
Than is the single thing I agree with you. But, to tackle corruption in SL we need to bring the punishment your erstwhile friend Saudis use to deal with the theft in their country since it is endemic in SL and accepted. To do that, just ask to your HRW and others like in SL depend on your handout to shut up. Otherwise, corruption in SL will never end.
Ranjith,
You have homes in Spain and in the UK.
You ear more than SL P + SL PM cleaning toilets in Spain and in the UK.
Why you worried about corruption in SL my dear?
Guy Goda . Because I visit Sri Lanka 3 to 4 time a year and I am a Sinhalese born in this beautiful country. Why I worried about corruption is because I don’t want this country going down the drain, young people leaving the country because not because they are poor but because of this corruptions.
Thank You Sir Ranjith,
Please leave us alone and continue living in Spain, cleaning the toilets used by the farty ladies over there.
Ranjith, are going to the Big Funeral? All the public toilets there will be overflowing and there’s opportunity for you to make a motza.
Indra to tackle corruption in SL you don’t want do what Saudis do. First we should stop taking had out and aids from foreign countries. When USA. China, Europe give money as aids don’t think it is for our benefits. The take more than they give. What we want honest politicians who can work with people and who like this country. That is not too much to ask.
I understand this response, worth 2 cents, from an international toilet cleaner earning more than SL P + SL PM with homes in Spain and UK.
Unfortunately, the H2S from the toilets damages the brain beyond repair.
Can anyone show me a Nation or a Society that is free of corruption?
Corruption is caused by greed and insecurity and social disparity and can be minimised not through legal mechanisms but through spiritual upliftment.
Corruption will never end in a poor country with weak economy. I will never give up my opinion based on facts and observations that only when a country is rich and economically strong it can think of a corruption free society. Simple reason – the poor and the hungry are vulnerable to be exploited and powerless to complain, or, they themselves initiate corruption by offering gifts or body to gain what they need since there is no other way. That was why I supported and still support what R’s did. Anybody going to tell me about air-lifted $100 bills to Uganda, better come with some evidence.
Dear Indra Akke,
The Rs 500 demanded by the Grama Sevaka and the DRO and the GA to process an application to Govt does not matter.
What matters is the alleged 10% on development loans, from financiers, large scale suppliers which are significant.
True there was an allegation of airflight of printed US dollars. I blindly believed in it, maybe, incorrectly. We all make mistakes; when realised, stand up and say sorry and get on with it (This is what GR did; I admire him).
My current approach to large scale corruption is :”If anyone has positive and legally sustainable evidence of corruption, please produce same to the Authorities and follow it up, day by day, to an end, and make sure the progression is published in social media”.
The only ways to tackle large scale corruptions are: (1) Both large and small scale corruptions have to be punished severely. I mean the punishments they use in the Arab countries and in China. (2). USA, EU etc give as as much as they give to Ukraine. Then, since the vast majority in the SL society are corrupted/ don’t understand what corruption is except when it goes against them, all have enough money to grab until they start suffering from ‘Usmuruththawa’. Nobody will complain or get hurt by corruption, since there is too much to go around. (3). Have a long-term plan, have a clear definition what corruption is (most of low level corruption in SL go down as part of the normal life) and start from the school teaching kids how everybody can benefit when there is no corruption and person best suited to a job or a position gets it.( I did not point at you about air-lifted US$. If you search on the Youtube for ‘Lokewate Sudanthaka’, that is where I saw this story being spread and all his followers appear to be believing and thanking him for the revelation.)
Roxie de Abrew . Just because there is no Nation or a Society that is free of corruption, does not mean that we should follow them, Two negatives want make it tight.