Shamindra Kulamannage speaks to Bradman Weerakoon, Secretary to the Prime Minister on Sri Lankas aid utilisation. Weerakoon says the government is looking at setting up a powerful Tennesee Valley type authority to cut through red tape in implementing large development projects in the country.
LBR: The big question in everybodys mind is that is the government capable of utilising such a large sum of money in four years.
What sort of framework are you looking at towards dispersing this money?
rnrnBradman Weerakoon:It is very tentative. One clear example is the creation of authorities like the Tennessee Valley Authorities in the 1930s, Gall Oya Board, River Valleys Board or the Mahaweli Authority. Where a large number of sectors are handled in a coherent way and which have proved successful. Overlapping of separate institutions can be avoided if you get them under one frame.rn
rnLBR: What you said is very relevant to the south of the country. But if you contrast that with the n