UN to provide SL with assistance package on request of Northern Province CM

New York: The United Nations said Friday that it was exploring the provision of a broad package of technical and financial assistance to Sri Lanka at the request of the Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V. Wigneswaran.

UN Spokesman for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric, said the UN supports the Government and the people of Sri Lanka and their efforts to advance reconciliation and accountability as evidenced by commitments made by the Secretary General and during Under-Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman’s recent visit to Sri Lanka.

“In this regard, we’re exploring provision of a broad package of technical and financial assistance at the request of the Chief Minister, also including the support of the Northern Province to bolster citizen confidence in the peace process,” the spokesperson said.

When asked about the Peacebuilding Fund, Dujarric said what was currently under discussion for support by the Peacebuilding Fund were “initiatives to advance the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka by resettlement of internally displaced persons, national reconciliation, strengthening human rights mechanism and ending impunity.”

He asserted that UN support was always based on the basis of inclusive and participatory consultations with all key stakeholders.

“And my understanding is that $ 1 million has already been dispersed to support resettlement and integration initiatives for the remaining internally displaced people in the north and east on seized land that has been returned by the Government. For the rest, we continue to consult with the Government of Sri Lanka, the Northern Provincial Council and all key stakeholders to finalise UN support,” he said.

When asked whether the Peacebuilding Fund support was not for a domestic accountability mechanism, the UN spokesman said that it needed to be determined whether it was domestic or international and the UN was obviously awaiting the High Commissioner’s report and recommendations to make that decision.