Do You Own Sri Lanka's Development?

Did you know that the World Bank Group actually wants to listen to the men and women of Sri Lanka and their views on Sri Lanka’s development and ensure that their voices are taken into account whenever development activities are carried out? Most of you like me (some months ago), would probably answer in the negative. Having joined the World Bank this year and having being tasked with assisting with the preparation of Sri Lanka's next Country Partnership Strategy for Sri Lanka, I have come to realize that some of my own perceptions about public involvement in World Bank activities have not been entirely accurate.

My current role in the Bank has enabled me to understand firsthand the efforts undertaken by bank staff to ensure that development activities remain sustainable. One of the ways in which this is achieved is through active engagement with as wide a group of stakeholders as possible prior to the commencement of any new project. All of us who are a part of the Bank Group strongly believe that it’s only by invoking the ownership of development among citizens that long term sustainability is achieved.

For each country that the World Bank Group is engaged in, it prepares a Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) every 3-4 years. The objective of the CPS is to set out the rationale, objectives, strategies and direction of support to be provided by the World Bank Group for the next 4 years (2012 to 2016). As the existing strategy for Sri Lanka runs up to June 2012, the World Bank Group country team in Sri Lanka has now initiated the preparation of our next Country Partnership Strategy which will be widely disseminated once it’s prepared.

Therefore in the build up to Sri Lanka's next CPS, the consultative process remains a key focal point. We are doing our utmost to ensure that the assistance provided by the World Bank Group to the government of Sri Lanka is an end result of close consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka and other important stakeholders that includes the general public, civil society organizations, the private sector and other development partners in the country. Such a process primarily seeks to help the Government of Sri Lanka achieve the results identified by the country’s vision, in selected areas of comparative advantage where the World Bank Group could best contribute. Three consultations have taken place so far for the health and urban sectors. Consultations with key figures in the private sector, key stakeholders in the education and environment sectors, youth and civil society groups have been planned for January and February 2012.

Therefore I would like to urge any members of the Sri Lankan public, including private individuals, public organizations, and commercial entities to participate in the consultation process on the upcoming Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Sri Lanka. Do not miss this opportunity to play a role in shaping Sri Lanka's future!

Click this link for more information on registration

If you are unable to attend these consultations, you can connect with us via the virtual space -

Send us your views via e-mail to lkcps1216@worldbank.org , or fax to– 2440357/5561352

We will be updating you on the process via this blog space and Facebook –