Transparent rebuilding

As floodwaters recede marginally, Sri Lankans are taking a moment to savour their incredible efforts over the past week and consider the harder long-term task of rebuilding lives. President Maithripala Sirisena during last week’s Cabinet meeting had decided that all donations are to be used exclusively for rebuilding houses, but the Government will have to make a stronger effort at transparency if it wants to win public trust. 

Emergency relief, while crucial, is easier on the wallet than rebuilding. Reeling from its own lack of cash, the Government has a dual duty to encourage donations both locally and from the international community, then channel them to the right quarters in the fastest time possible. 

A statement from the Prime Minister’s office indicated that the Government had called a meeting with international organisations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations and International Monetary Fund (IMF), to seek additional funds for rebuilding. 

During the last major natural disaster, the tsunami of 2004, the second stage was riddled with inefficiency and corruption. The now infamous ‘Helping Hambantota’ case aside, there were uncountable incidents of wastage, mismanagement and corruption. The second wave of aid that flowed to Sri Lanka was yet another missed opportunity to foster equitable development with the neediest often being overlooked. 

Thousands of houses were built halfway or badly built so that less than two years later they were crumbling around owners. Entire blocks of houses were constructed in areas where there were no people or well-connected families received multiple houses while deserving others had to fend for themselves. The sad stories were told and retold many times in the subsequent years but little was done to establish a competent investigative authority or even a mechanism to ensure that such thievery would not happen again.

Sri Lanka now faces much the same challenges, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale. But the same problems are threatening to derail reconstruction. The nature of corrupt politicians is well known to average people, which is why they prefer to band together and help flood relief rather than depending entirely on State machinery. Moreover, given the disgruntlement already expressed by many people over the alleged inaction of politicians, they are less likely to open their purses for State collections. 

Yet the truth is that the Government can do much if it puts its mind to it. The State has the resources, expertise and authority to spearhead the rebuilding phase and in many ways should be allowed to do so. The question is, how can it reassure a deeply-doubtful public that its intentions are not only sincere but will be carried out honourably? 

One obvious step would be to set up a website or other online facility with the amount in each of the bank accounts and detail how they are being sent. Complaints and suggestions can be collected the same way and each donor can track their dollars or rupees with certainty.

Another measure that would take little effort is to team up with private organisations, preferably those already engaged in relief work, to create an efficient and transparent system for rebuilding. 

These are simple measures that would not add layers of bureaucracy but get the job done. The Government desperately needs to change its track record on this front and it now has the perfect opportunity.