President bids warm farewell to UN Rep

United Nations Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne on Tuesday during his farewell meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, discussed the current situation in Sri Lanka especially floods and recalled the challenging times that were faced during his period.

The President appreciated the cooperation extended by Buhne during his tenure in Sri Lanka, especially in the challenging times towards the end of the humanitarian operation in 2009. 

Buhne expressed his sincere appreciation for the many personalities that helped the UN during that period and said he looked forward to the success of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) which would in turn help the UN in its considerations of the present situation in Sri Lanka and programme on reconciliation. 

President Rajapaksa mentioned that Sri Lanka through the UN office in Colombo and directly, will continue to have good and closest relations with the UN and wished Buhne all success in his future undertakings. Buhne will leave the country tonight ending his tenure. His replacement is yet to be appointed.

Neil Buhne is the 17th Representative of the United Nations since the UN first opened an office in 1952. In July 2007, he took up his responsibilities as UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, on his appointment by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

A national of Canada, Buhne, has had ties to Sri Lanka since he began his career with the United Nations as a Junior Professional Officer with UNDP in Colombo in 1984.