US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO348

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000348 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR EB/TFG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, CE, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION SIGNATURE PROJECT 
PROPOSALS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 25167 
 
1.  (SBU) Per request reftel, USAID has - since 
early January - held extended meetings and has been 
in frequent contact with various line entities of 
the GSL including the Chairman of the Rural 
Development Authority, senior staff of the Ministry 
of Fisheries and the CEO of the Vocational Training 
Authority.  Together with the Embassy ECON Officer, 
USAID recently met with the Roads & Bridges 
Coordinator of TAFREN ( the Task Force for 
Rebuilding the Nation) Mr. Ken Balendra, to obtain 
the view of the national level coordinating body. 
 
2.  (SBU) As each organization has labored to 
compile and submit their institutional post-tsunami 
assessments, several issues are manifest:  the need 
for assistance, particularly if based on cost 
estimates, even within an organization, varies 
significantly; despite the rhetoric, donors have 
made few if any ironclad commitments and as result, 
the GSL has remained receptive to all comers, and 
that there's little in the way of strategic 
planning evident, particularly any linking the 
proposed response to potential impact on economic 
growth.  The Mission's approach involved giving 
more consideration be given to those critical, 
mutually reinforcing groupings of related, 
sequential and complementary interventions that 
hold the promise of development multiplier effect: 
for example, improved all weather access, that 
includes restoring damaged bridges, and GIS-based 
spatial planning to encourage and direct private 
sector investment in coastal hotels once a 
sustainable and environmentally sound wat/san 
system is in place. 
 
3.  (SBU) The Arugam Bay Bridge & Area Development 
activity that the USAID Mission has identified as 
its priority one activity is a case in point.  The 
restoration of the vocational school system (some 
14 were wiped out) is another opportunity to make a 
lasting contribution not only to the erection of a 
number of structures but to influence positively 
the formation of Sri Lanka's youth and the economic 
contribution of its future work force.   These two 
examples serve to illustrate the post's emerging 
strategy for sustainable recovery.  that end, the 
Mission will - given the resource constraints - 
continue the process it has undertaken of screening 
opportunities for engaging in infrastructure 
reconstruction for optimizing the economic 
development multiplier effect. 
 
5.  (SBU) At present, and as a result of 
interagency collaboration that included 
participation of civil engineers from the recently 
departed U.S. Marine detachment, post is 
recommending the following projects by priority: 
 
-  Arugam Bay Bridge & Area Development - $10.725 
million 
Priority:  1st 
Type:  Integrated Coastal Zone Infrastructure 
Development Components:  Bridge Structure ($5.50 
(million) 
Abutments, supports and approaches ($ 1.75 million) 
All-weather coastal bypass access 
Road ($825 thousand) 
Water / sanitation planning & Installation for 
Pottuvil, Raddella, Wedagama, and Panama Area 
communities ($1.90 million) 
Regional & urban development capacity strengthening 
($750 thousand) 
Implementation Modalities: 
Authorization:    IAA 632(a) w/ U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers or existing IQC task order modification 
under a new SOAG 
Design:  ST-TA from the Corps of Eng. or 
alternately from Louis Berger, Inc. under the 
Agency's SCOTIA IQC for CZ resources Mgt. 
Execution:  U.S. Contractor, labor, materials and 
equipment of local and foreign source & origin 
Period:  Two -three years 
Matching / Leveraging Prospects:  International & 
U.S. private sources - unknown, but will explore in 
GDA's "e-bay"-type facility particularly with 
diaspora.  Other bilateral donors-unknown. 
Multilateral donors - unknown. 
 
-- Vo-Ed Schools ( 14 ) Reconstruction & 
Rehabilitation  ( $20.720 million ) 
Priority:  2nd 
Type:  Institution Building / Work force 
Development / Human Capacity Building Components: 
School & classroom reconstruction ($750 thousand) x 
14 = $10.5 million 
Grounds, plant and perimeter rehabilitation ($50 
thousand) x 14 = $700 thousand 
Physical education facilities ($5 thousand) x 14 = 
$70 thousand 
Replacement tools, supplies & equipment ($5.50 
million) total 
Teaching materials, references & texts ($25 
thousand) x 14 = $350 thousand 
LT-TA in curriculum & instruction, skills 
certification ($325 thousand / yr.) x 5 years x two 
advisors = $3.25 million English language labs ($25 
thousand x 14 = $350 thousand 
Implementation Modalities: 
Authorization:  Amendment of Work force Development 
component of existing SOAG on competitiveness; 
Design:  ST-TA the Corps of Engineers 
Execution:  U.S. Contractor, labor, materials and 
equipment of local and foreign source & origin 
Procurement:  RCO/New Delhi through a Procurement 
Services Agent Technical Assistance:  U.S. source & 
origin and / or Peace Corps 
Period:  One year - 18 months on physical 
construction, one year on procurement, up to five 
years of LT-TA 
Matching / Leveraging Prospects:  International & 
U.S. private sources - probable and will explore 
with GDA assistance.  Other bilateral donors - 
unknown.  Multilateral donors - unknown 
 
-- Mutur Region All-Weather Bridge & Road Access ($ 
3.25 million ) 
Priority:  3rd 
Type:  Coastal Infrastructure 
Components:  Bridge providing all-weather access to 
Mutur Implementation:  Authority:  New SOAG Design: 
ST-TA the Corps of Engineers or alternately from 
Louis Berger, Inc. under a mod.  To the Mission's 
existing task order under the SCOTIA IQC for CZ 
Resources Mgt. 
Execution:  U.S. Contractor, labor, materials and 
equipment of local and foreign source & origin 
Period:  Two years Matching / Leveraging Prospects: 
International & U.S. private sources - unknown, but 
will explore in GDA's "e-bay" facility particularly 
among diaspora.  Other bilateral donors - unknown. 
Multilateral donors - unknown 
 
--Hikkaduwa Harbor & Fisheries Infrastructure 
Rehabilitation and Area Development ($ 6.25 
million) 
Priority:  4th 
Type:  Coastal Infrastructure & Marine Resources 
Mgt Components:  Harbor planning break water jetty, 
moorage, boat dock, ice plant, fish storage & 
equipment, boat & motor repair facilities, 
refrigerated trucks, supplies & materials Water & 
Sanitation planning and installation 
Implementation:  Authority:  Amendment adding a 9th 
cluster (fisheries & marine resources) to 
competitiveness 
SOAG or a new SOAG 
Design:  Technical Assistance from the U.S. army 
Corps of Engineers Or alternately from Louis 
Berger, Inc. as a modification to the Mission's 
existing task order under the SCOTIA IQC for CZ 
Resources Mgt. 
Execution:  U.S. Contractor, labor, materials and 
equipment of local and foreign source & origin. 
Period:  One to two years 
Matching / Leveraging Prospects:  International & 
U.S. private sources - unknown, but will explore in 
GDA's "e-bay" facility.  Other bilateral donors - 
unknown. 
Multilateral donors - unknown 
 
-- Mirissa & Puranawell Dondra Fisheries 
Infrastructure & Harbor Restoration ($6.25 million 
) - near Matara 
Priority:  5th 
Type:  Coastal Infrastructure & Marine Resources 
Management 
Components:  Harbor planning break water jetty, 
moorage, boat dock, ice plant fish storage & 
equipment, boat & motor repair facilities, 
refrigerated trucks, supplies & materials 
Implementation:  Authority:  Amendment adding a 9th 
cluster (fisheries & marine resources) to 
competitiveness SOAG or a new SOAG 
Design:  Technical Assistance from the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers or alternately from Louis 
Berger, Inc. as a modification to the Mission's 
existing task order under the SCOTIA IQC for 
coastal zone resources management. 
Execution:  U.S. Contractor, labor, materials, and 
equipment of local and foreign source & origin. 
Period:  One to two years 
Matching / Leveraging Prospects:  International & 
U.S. private sources - unknown, but will explore in 
GDA's "e-bay" facility.  Other bilateral donors - 
unknown. 
Multilateral donors - unknown. 
 
-- Kod - Bay Fisheries Infrastructure & Harbor 
Restoration ($ 4.00 million ) - near Trincomalee 
Priority:  6th 
Type:  Coastal Infrastructure & Marine Resources 
Management 
Components:  Harbor planning break water jetty, 
moorage, boat dock, ice plant, fish storage & 
equipment, boat & motor repair facilities, 
refrigerated trucks, supplies and materials. 
Implementation:  Authority:  Amendment adding a 9th 
cluster (fisheries & marine resources to 
competitiveness 
SOAG or a new SOAG 
Design:  echnical Assistance from the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers or alternately from Louis 
Berger, Inc. as a modification to the Mission's 
existing task order under the SCOTIA IQC for 
coastal zone resources management. 
Execution:  U.S. Contractor, labor, materials and 
equipment of local and foreign source & origin. 
Period:  One to two years 
Matching / Leveraging Prospects:  International & 
U.S. private sources - unknown, but will explore in 
GDA's "e-bay" facility.  Other bilateral donors - 
unknown.  Multilateral donors - unknown. 
 
5.  (SBU) Post remains guardedly optimistic that 
these opportunities remain open to USG support and 
that it would be very welcomed.  However, donors 
are lining up and firm funding commitments will 
soon follow expressions of interest.  Time is of 
the essence if the USG is to retain a presence of 
any magnitude in Sri Lanka post disaster recovery. 
 
LUNSTEAD