3. Areas and volume of Swiss cooperation

Although a relatively small donor, Switzerland is proud to have been associated with Sri Lanka’s development efforts since many years ago, with a long-term perspective and commitment. We see our special role by identifying niches and challenges in line with the priorities of the needs assessment, and offering our support to Sri Lankan partners in areas where we have a particular expertise to offer and/or where we can usefully complement efforts of bigger donors. In this regard we consider donor coordination to be of great importance.

Switzerland is a small, densely populated, and multi-cultural country, which has found federalism, direct democracy and local governance to be the best way to organize society and to build a stable and sustainable nation. Multi-ethnic and multi-religious structures and processes are an essential part of the Swiss way of life. In this regard and with due respect to existing differences between countries, we may have some interesting and relevant experiences to share with our Sri Lankan partners.

Geographically the focus of our support is on the North and the East of Sri Lanka. Swiss support to the South provided so far through development programmes of Swiss NGOs, will continue as well.

The great number of Sri Lankans living abroad – many of whom have acquired skills badly in need back home – can play an important role in peace transformation. Switzerland, with one of the largest Sri Lankan communities in Europe, is currently exploring ways, which may lead to the capitalization of this special resource.

3.1 Financial contributions

The Swiss government’s cooperation in humanitarian aid and development cooperation, peace promotion and reconstruction in the whole of Sri Lanka amounts to a total of 8.3 million Swiss francs (approx. USD 6.5 million) in 2003, all of it as grant money. As of today and subject to budgetary approvals by our parliament, we expect contributions by Swiss sources to remain in the vicinity of this level during the next years. We shall respond flexibly and case by case to new opportunities as they arise, keeping in mind our role as a small donor.

3.2 Support to humanitarian and development activities

We have responded to the progress of the peace process by covering immediate needs in reconstruction and rehabilitation in the North. Furthermore, we continue to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of people in areas with mixed communities in the East.

In the short and medium terms, the support for a safe return and reintegration of IDPs is most important. In the longer term, if conditions are given, selected humanitarian programmes might be progressively transformed into development projects.

Following our own assessment mission in December 2002 and in line with the Needs Assessment, Switzerland has identified urgencies for the reconstruction of public infrastructure (Schools and hospitals) in the North. This task will be handled directly through our new Swiss Cooperation Office for Sri Lanka. Consequently, emergency support for IDPs will be phased down, if the situation permits. Emergency Appeals like the ones triggered by the drought in the South in 2002 and by recent heavy floods in May 2003 in the southern part of the country will continue to be responded to ad hoc.

Since 2000, the Swiss Government has supported Swiss NGO’s with the implementation of development activities in the South and the East of Sri Lanka and will continue to do so. Valuable experience has been gathered as a result of focusing development cooperation projects on peace promotion measures in multiethnic areas. e.g. in a project in the East. These activities will be continued in a more targeted manner in the future taking into consideration national priorities for development on employment creation for unemployed youths and promotion of equal economic opportunities for the poor in agriculture.

For the past two years, Switzerland has been offering asylum seekers from Sri Lanka a return assistance programme. Returnees receive a financial starter to help them reintegrate in their country of origin. The total budget amounts to 1.65 million Swiss Francs.

3.3 Support of peace policy activities

The conflict parties have agreed on the principle of sharing power within a federal system in a united Sri Lanka. On request of the parties, since the Oslo round of peace talks in December 2002, advocacy and capacity building on Federalism was extended to delegations of Sri Lankan Parliamentarians, Journalists and a delegation of the LTTE. This support will continue.

There is a need for peace development to be complemented by processes and structures conflict transformation, which include all parties concerned and civil society. Such programmes which Switzerland will continue to support encompass activities aimed at deepening and widening the peace process by getting indirect stakeholders like middle level leaders involved.

3.4 Support of mine assessment/demining activities

Humanitarian mine action is a first step to support resettlement. Switzerland supports a mine assessment and capacity building project, which is implemented by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action and covers Mannar, Vanni and Vavuniya districts. The project is working in cooperation with the Government and the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization.

In this connection, Switzerland urges all stakeholders to take concrete steps towards their full adherence to a general ban on mines, leading ultimately to the speedy ratification of the Ottawa Land Mine Treaty and joining the Geneva Call respectively.