SL ready to share its experience as best practices on humanitarian effectiveness with other countries

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha has said “the approaches used in post-tsunami and post-conflict Sri Lanka, with suitable adaptation, could be deployed in managing humanitarian situations in other countries as well, and that the Government of Sri Lanka continues to stand ready to share its experience as best practices on humanitarian effectiveness, with other countries that are similarly placed, in an effort to relieve those who undergo suffering due to humanitarian emergencies.
Ambassador Aryasinha made these observations when he delivered the Sri Lanka statement at the humanitarian affairs segment of the Substantive Session of ECOSOC, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 17th July 2013.

Ambassador Aryasinha recalled that as a country Sri Lanka had not only grappled with a separatist terrorist conflict for almost 30 long years, but also dealt with an unprecedented natural disaster in the form of the Asian tsunami in 2004. Detailing the systems deployed by the government’s Centre of National Operations (CNO) to manage natural disasters, he said the 24/7 operational capacity now allows Sri Lanka to evacuate coastal areas within an hour of a tsunami alert. He also enumerated the significant strides made by the Government of Sri Lanka over the 4 years since the ending of the terrorist conflict, in re-settling IDPs, de-mining, restoring livelihoods and property of those affected and initiating a program to pay compensation to the conflict-affected residents of Northern Province, who lost loved ones and property and sustained injuries, as part of a process of restitution.

Read More : http://www.lankamission.org/images/2013Images/July/ECOSOC_statement.pdf

US to fund livelihood programme for vulnerable groups to “support reconciliation”

The US development agency, USAID has said it will design a livelihood project for vulnerable groups, including “women-headed households, those relocated due to the conflict” and others.

A statement by the US embassy in Colombo said:

In order to support further reconciliation of the Sri Lankan people, the U.S. Embassy, through its development office of USAID, is designing a new livelihoods project that aims to increase household incomes in the dairy, poultry and horticulture sectors. This initiative seeks to reach women-headed households, those relocated due to the conflict, and other vulnerable groups.

The goal is to link household production with existing private sector producers and processors to further economic development. Potential activities include improving household income by increasing the production of fresh milk and dairy products, improving cattle genetics through artificial insemination, facilitating egg and broiler production and diversifying horticulture cultivation.

USAID estimates that up to 5,000 households may benefit under this initiative. Program funding amounts are still being assessed and this program is expected to be on-line before the end of 2013. USAID already supports livelihood programs through its economic growth office and has provided approximately $40,000,000 over the last five years to help re-integrate families in the former conflict zones.

Justice Wigneswaran’s Nomination Indicates the TNA wants to Try to find a Way to Work with the Govt

For the first time in a long while, I feel hopeful about the future of Sri Lanka. Everybody accepts that the main challenge at this juncture is reconciliation – uniting the country in spirit now that it has finally been united in body. And despite the many appalling failures of the Government – together with the complete inability of the Opposition to make any impact whatsoever on even absolutely mundane issues – there is suddenly reason to feel positive.

The Northern Provincial Council election is going ahead.

It is of course a reflection of the dismal state of post-war Sri Lanka that this very basic democratic requirement should be considered an achievement. Still, after months of frenzied campaigning by Sinhalese extremists, the fact that candidates are being nominated and preparations made is a huge relief.

Denying residents of the North the right to elect their representatives as people living elsewhere in the country do as a matter of course would have given the Tamil separatist project a tremendous boost.

This is no doubt what parties like the JHU want, since there would be no point to their existence if Sri Lankans could get along. Udaya Gammanpila somehow managed to keep a straight face while announcing that the JHU is boycotting the Northern Provincial Council election, as if there were any practical difference between contesting and not contesting when nobody in the North is going to vote for them. If Sri Lanka were to become a genuinely inclusive society, there would have to be a lot more such theoretical boycotts by the JHU.

Read More : http://warcrimesrilanka.blogspot.de/p/justice-wigneswarans-nomination.html

President Rajapaksa Does not Want to Lose the only Tamil Minister from North Serving in his Cabinet –DouglasDevananda

By Kelum Bandara

(An Interview with Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda who is also the Secretary-General of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party(EPDP)

Excerpts:

Q: You said right throughout that you would be the chief ministerial candidate of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for the Northern Provincial Council Election. Now the election has been declared. What is your stand now?

I will make an official stand on the election only after the date of the election is announced by the Elections Commissioner. I need some more time to clarify certain matters in view of this election. President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not want to lose the only Tamil Minister serving in his Cabinet representing the North. I am sensitive to that request. Again, I have to be concerned about the political situation. Considering all, I will announce my stand after the day of polling is announced.

I always maintain that the 13th Amendment is the only basis for the resolution of the national question. There are views for and against it. Yet, it is the way forward. I still believe in it. The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) is the best forum for it.

Q: But, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is not party to the PSC. Is it practical to find a solution through a process that excludes them?

A: Some parties with vested interests have decided to boycott the PSC process. I am among those who took the stand that an all-party approach is essentially important to find a solution. Yet, the parties, driven by self-interests, have taken a different stand. It is unfortunate. Even without the TNA, we started meeting in the PSC. The caravan moves despite the dogs barking. The TNA wants to adopt time delaying tactics. When the provincial council system was introduced in 1987, the present ruling party was opposed to it as the then opposition. The alliance partners of the TNA also were opposed to it. They called it an outdated system. Today, they participate in the provincial council elections. With or without the TNA, we should take a decision.

Read More : http://warcrimesrilanka.blogspot.de/p/president-rajapaksa-does-not-want-to.html

British MP’s remarks totally inappropriate: SL

Responding to remarks made by House of Commons MP Simon Danczuk to the media on the ongoing investigations into the killing of British tourist Khuram Shaikh, the Ministry of External Affairs said the comments were totally inappropriate.

The Ministry said the government was committed to punish the perpetrators of the crime.

In a media release, the Ministry said the MP’s comments to the media about an unscheduled meeting with the President were uncalled for.

“For any visiting delegate below the level of a Head of State or Government, a meeting with the President would be a privilege, as it would not be in keeping with accepted diplomatic protocol and is unthinkable in Western countries. Hence talking to the media about the issues that he will raise with the Head of State even before such a meeting is scheduled is totally inappropriate,” the Ministry said.

Responding to the British MP’s allegations of a cover up, the Ministry said the comments were prejudicial since the countries criminal justice system was in progress.

“The British MP talks of “concerns of a cover-up” with regard to the murder, which is a prejudgment of a case that is still pending in Courts. The Government has condemned the murder of Khuram Shaikh and stated its commitment to punish the perpetrators and the process is underway. In such a context the statement by Mr. Danczuk is pure speculation. During a previous visit of the MP with the brother of Khuram Shaikh, he met the CID, which is leading the investigation as well as the Justice Ministry Secretary,”

The Ministry said the British delegation which includes Mr. Danczuk would not meet the President and instead would meet high ranking government officials.

“During the present visit, the delegation will meet Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and Ministers G.L. Peiris, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Basil Rajapaksa while Mr. Danczuk will have a separate meeting with Minister Rauf Hakeem. The delegation will also meet the Leader of the Opposition, members of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group and Secretary Defence” the Ministry said. (HF)