Sri Lanka reassures UN on IDP welfare

Sri Lanka yesterday at ease the United Nations that it is persistently committed top protect the human rights of the inhabitants in the Wanni and ensure their welfare.
This assurance was known when Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the UN.
The Minister briefed the Secretary General on the development being achieved by the Government in its attempt to endorse and defend human rights and also address the humanitarian concerns in the North, a spokesman for the Minister said. He reiterated that the Government remained responsive to the code of civilian protection, emphasizing that the Security Forces' experience in the Eastern Province last year with no civilian wounded provided the best practice, which inspired its ongoing movement next to terrorism in the North.
He stressed that the continuing food provisions to the Wanni with the help of the United Nations demonstrated the concern that Government had for the welfare of its citizens and that, based on the priorities documented by the UN needs assessment mission last week, provide of non-food items would follow. He said there was no withdrawal of UN personnel from Kilinochchi to Vavuniya and it was only a temporary transfer which was taken in consultation with partners, specially to make sure that they faced no risk as military action against LTTE intensified.
Elaborating on the work of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Access, which met frequently under his chairmanship to address all ready issues in the humanitarian arena, the Minister conveyed that this device served as a clearing channel for immediate concerns and helped find solutions to more than a few issues then and there. Emphasizing that the proceedings taken by the Government and the UN in the humanitarian area were reassuring, the Secretary General confirmed that UN stood ready to help the Government in its attempt to continue to get better caring situation and confident the Government to continue to remain committed to achieving a negotiated settlement.
The Minister harassed that he had precise orders from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, following the President's meeting in New York with UN Secretary General, the support and kindness to the desk General and the United Nations for the humanitarian work being approved out in Sri Lanka in addition to ongoing development work and also to build on the existing bilateral relations.