Government working on a plan to resettle IDPs within 180 days – Sri Lanka President

Hilary Rajakarunanayake, Editor – Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune

Colombo, 24 May, (Asiantribune.com): Sri Lanka President Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa receiving UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon assured UN Secretary General that the internally displaced persons will be settled within the shortest possible time.

In the meantime, UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon pointed out that Government has to concentrate on three critical areas - immediate humanitarian relief, reintegration and reconstruction, and a sustainable and equitable political solution in Sri Lanka.

When UN Secretary General met Sri Lanka President he said, "The Government was already working on a plan to resettle most of the IDPs within 180 days".

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met the UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon at President's House, in Kandy on Saturday (May 23). UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, met Sri Lanka President at 7.00 pm Saturday, after a visit to Internally Displaced Persons relief village in Vavuniya.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the UN Secretary General that all resettlement will be done under internationally accepted norms. This would require ensuring the safety of the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North, as well as their rehabilitation, and providing them with new skills for successful livelihood

Ban Ki-moon said that 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.

President Rajapaksa said that these areas had already been recognized as those needing the highest priority, and that work were already in place to address them.

Secretary General of United nations .Ban Ki Moon met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 23rd at Kandy President;s House.(Pix Suadth Silva)

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 the society.

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 of the relief village at Chettikulam which he visited earlier on Saturday, 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 number 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 wellbeing of the IDPs and the needs of rehabilitation and reconstruction.

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.

Joint statement by the GOSL and the United Nations at the conclusion of UN Secretary General’s visit to Sri Lanka - 23rd may 2009

At the invitation of the H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to Sri Lanka. During the course of his visit, he held talks with the President, Foreign Minister as well as other senior leaders of Sri Lanka. During his stay, he also consulted other relevant stakeholders, members of the international humanitarian agencies and civil society. The Secretary-General visited the IDP sites at Vavuniya and overflew the conflict area, near Mullaitivu that was the scene of the conflict.

President Rajapaksa welcomed the Secretary-General as the highest dignitary to visit Sri Lanka in the post-conflict phase. This was a reflection of the close cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Nations as well as Sri Lanka’s commitment to work with the UN in the future.

President Rajapaksa and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon agreed that following the end of operations against the LTTE, Sri Lanka had entered a new post-conflict beginning. In this context, the Government of Sri Lanka faces many immediate and long-term challenges relating to issues of relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation. While addressing these critical issues, it was agreed that the new situation offered opportunities for long-term development of the North and for re-establishing democratic institutions and electoral politics after 2 ½ decades. The Government expressed its commitment to ensure the economic and political empowerment of the people of the North through its programmes.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General agreed that addressing the aspirations and grievances of all communities and working towards a lasting political solution was fundamental to ensuring long-term socio-economic development. The Secretary-General welcomed the assurance of the President of Sri Lanka contained in his Statement in Parliament on 19th May 2009 that a national solution acceptable to all sections of people will be evolved. President Rajapaksa expressed his firm resolve to proceed with the implementation of the 13th Amendment, as well as to begin a broader dialogue with all parties, including the Tamil parties in the new circumstances, to further enhance this process and to bring about lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed a series of areas in which the United Nations will assist the ongoing efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka in addressing the future challenges and opportunities.

With regard to IDPs, the United Nations will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the IDPs now in Vavuniya and Jaffna. The Government will continue to provide access to humanitarian agencies. The Government will expedite the necessary basic and civil infrastructure as well as means of livelihood necessary for the IDPs to resume their normal lives at the earliest. The Secretary-General welcomed the announcement by the Government expressing its intention to dismantle the welfare villages at the earliest as outlined in the Plan to resettle the bulk of IDPs and call for its early implementation.

The Government seeks the cooperation of the international community in mine-clearing which is an essential prerequisite to expediting the early return of IDPs.

The Secretary-General called for donor assistance towards the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) jointly launched by the GOSL and the UN, which supports the relief, shelter and humanitarian needs of those in IDP sites.

President Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General recognized that the large number of former child soldiers forcibly recruited by the LTTE as an important issue in the post-conflict context. President Rajapaksa reiterated his firm policy of zero tolerance in relation to child recruitment. In cooperation with UNICEF, child-friendly procedures have been established for their "release and surrender" and rehabilitation in Protective Accommodation Centres. The objective of the rehabilitation process presently underway is to reintegrate former child soldiers into society as productive citizens. The Secretary-General expressed satisfaction on the progress already made by the Government in cooperation with UNICEF and encouraged Sri Lanka to adopt similar policies and procedures relating to former child soldiers in the North.

President Rajapaksa informed the UN Secretary-General regarding ongoing initiatives relating to rehabilitation and re-integration of ex-combatants. In addition to the ongoing work by the office of the Commissioner General for Rehabilitation, a National Framework for the Integration of Ex-Combatant into Civilian Life is under preparation, with the assistance of the UN and other International Organizations.

Sri Lanka reiterated its strongest commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in keeping with international human rights standards and Sri Lanka’s international obligations. The Secretary General underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The Government will take measures to address those grievances.

- Asian Tribune -