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There is a good relationship in place with the Government, recommendations have been made and machinery suggested regarding matters of concern in the field of humanitarian affairs and it is necessary to see that these are implemented, said Sir John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs at the conclusion of his visit to Sri Lanka today. Questioned about the need for a UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission for Sri Lanka, as sought by Human Rights agencies, Sir John Holmes said there were conflicting views on monitoring, but what is needed is to dissipate the concerns of HR agencies, whether by monitoring or better means of dealing with it. Sir John Holmes made these observations shortly after his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (Aug. 09), at a media briefing chaired by the Minister of Disaster Management & Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe. The UN USG had visited Jaffna and the Eastern Province during his three day visit to Sri Lanka, in addition to meeting with key Ministers and Government officials, particularly those engaged in relief and rehabilitation work. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said what Sri Lanka was looking at was the need to strengthen and build the capacity of Sri Lankan institutions to carry out the overseeing of Human Rights activities. There was the need for more offices of the Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka and more facilities for it to function. The Government has already initiated work on amending the necessary legislation to give greater powers to the Human Rights Commission. The new provisions sought to make it mandatory for the recommendations of the HRC to be implemented. The UN USG said he had a very constructive meeting with President Rajapaksa and that his visit to Sri Lanka had a positive outcome. With regard to the East, he saw a clear opportunity there to restore normal life, and noticed a degree of normalcy in place. The farmers and fisherman there need inputs from the government to restore their livelihoods. There was the need to build confidence among the people and he noticed aspects of civilianizing activities in the area. He understood the need for certain restrictions placed on the movement of aid workers and NGOs in conflict areas, particularly with regard to the threat of mines in some areas and other security concerns. The Government could decide which NGOs could go where, but this should not be discriminatory. With regard to the safety of aid workers, Sir John said it was necessary to ensure the safety of aid workers and looked forward to an early conclusion of investigations into the killing of aid workers in Sri Lanka. Concerns were expressed by the UN USG over the continued presence of the Karuna faction the East, and the need to disarm them. He stressed that no group other than the security forces of the legitimate government could carry arms in the country. Asked about two UN aid workers who had been abducted by the LTTE, the UN USG said he was aware that the matter had bee resolved. Minister Samarasinghe commenting on this said there were reports of more than two such aid workers being abducted by the LTTE. The Government had made it very clear to the UN Office that in all such instances it should first inform the Government of the incidents. There was no room for quiet diplomacy, while not informing the Government. The Government was naturally concerned about such abductions, as they were Sri Lankan citizens.
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