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There have been certain misleading media reports concerning the visit of the UN Secretary General attributed to unnamed UN officials. An official request was made to the Government by the UNDP Resident Representative’s Office on January 3 for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s visit to Sri Lanka and had proposed the Secretary General visit Hambantota, Ampara and Trincomalee. The Government agreed to these proposals and offered that Annan consider visiting Jaffna and Batticaloa as well. Later taking into account the security, programming and time considerations the UNDP Office and the Government authorities eventually agreed on an itinerary for Kofi Annan that included an aerial survey of the affected coast line and on-site inspections at Hambantota and Trincomalee. The Government also offered access and air transport facilities to any member of the Secretary General’s delegation to visit any tsunami affected areas in the country including Mullaitivu, an area visited by UNICEF Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, a few days ago. The Government,
therefore, rejects any assertion by any quarter to politicize this
essentially humanitarian mission initiated by the Secretary General and
gladly hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka.
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