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Saturday, May 23, 2009 - 15.20 GMT |
IDPs: Govt. already acting on agreed areas
of priority
– President to Ban Ki-moon |
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The Government is already giving the highest
priority to the issues raised by the UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with regard to
the massive influx of Internally Displaced
Persons held hostage by the LTTE, and
matters that have arisen following the
defeat of LTTE terrorism, said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa at their meeting at
President’s House, in Kandy today.
The Secretary General, who met the President
after a visit to IDP relief villages in
Vavuniya earlier today, said progress must
come in three critical areas such as
immediate humanitarian relief, followed by
reintegration and reconstruction, leading to
a sustainable and equitable political
solution in Sri Lanka.
Responding to the Secretary General’s
observation that progress on all these areas
must proceed in parallel, with the least
delay, President Rajapaksa said these areas
had already been recognized as those needing
the highest priority, and that work was
already in place to address them. He said
there were still some aspects of security of
the IDPs that had to be assured in view of
the likely presence of LTTE infiltrators
among the large numbers who had come to the
Government areas. All action was being taken
to ensure the safety of the IDPs, and to
expedite their resettlement and
reintegration into society.
President Rajapaksa said the Government was
already working on a plan to resettle most
of the IDPs within 180 days. He told the
UNSG that all resettlement will be done
under internationally accepted norms. This
would require ensuring the safety of the
IDPs, as well as their rehabilitation, and
providing them with new skills for
successful livelihood.
President Rajapaksa also said the Government
was committed to a political solution, and
for this purpose action would be taken based
on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The UN Secretary General who appreciated the
conditions the relief village at Chettikulam
that he visited earlier today, said there
was room for improvement, which would
require the wider assistance of the
International Community. He understood the
immense pressures brought on the Government
as a result of the sudden arrival of such
large numbers of people seeking relief, who
had been held hostage for a long period.
The UN Secretary General requested the
Government to allow greater access to
international relief agencies that will be
able to help with their experience and
expertise. President Rajapaksa said that as
conditions improved, especially with regard
to security, there would be no objections to
such assistance, from organizations that
were genuinely interested in the well being
of the IDPs and the needs of rehabilitation
and reconstruction.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon assured President Rajapaksa
that the UN would extend all assistance to
Sri Lanka in facing up to this new challenge
following the ending of hostilities in the
country.
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