Media Release : Thursday, 10 March 2005

World Bank representative in Sri Lanka, Mr. Harrold should be recalled immediately

Confirming the fact that the World Bank office in Sri Lanka is heavily aligned to the separatist- terrorist LTTE in Sri Lanka, Mr. Harrold has completely stepped outside his area of responsibility by stating that the LTTE is a stake holder for funds released to Sri Lanka. We like to pose two simple questions to Mr. Harrold of the World Bank. In your lending portfolio do you have clients who are other than nation states? How do you account for funds released to the so called stake holders who are not elected and who rule by the gun?

When the UN introduced sanctions to the Iraqi government resulting in human misery, did the WB consider release of fund even though Saddam's Baath party was a clear stakeholder? Or is it a fact that the World Bank representatives use a different set of measurements when dealing with countries like Sri Lanka?

Mr. Harrold by his statement has lead the World Bank to violate Security Council Resolutions 1267 (1998) of 15 Oct, 1373 (2001) of 28 Sept 2001 and A666 (2004) of Oct 2004 relating to terrorism. Put simply, the World Bank as an institution had been sold by Mr. Harrold to the LTTE, the world's most ruthless terrorist organization. Simultaneously, he has completely ignored the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

If the World Bank stands by nation states and the UN resolutions, the only option left in Sri Lanka is for Mr. Harrold to be withdrawn. The credibility of the world bank in the eyes of the Sri Lankan will hinge on how the it handles the misconduct of Mr. Harrold.

Mr. Peter Harrold, we simply don't need you to act as a Viceroy of Sri Lanka. You have violated the terms of the International Development Association (Act 7 of 1961) Price of our sovereignty is not US $ 4.5 billion, whether in grants or loans!

Dr D Jayasuriya 

President

Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR)

Reg No. A 003 07777 M

PO Box 4066

Mulgrave    VIC 3170

Australia