Sri Lanka thanks UN for its assistance towards the country

The Sri Lankan government today (19) said it wanted to work together with the United Nations to achieve permanent peace although it had differences of opinions with the international organization on certain issues.

Addressing a ceremony held at the UN Compound in Colombo today to mark the World Humanitarian Day, Sri Lanka's Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa thanked the UN, the donor countries and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on behalf of the government for the humanitarian support extended to Sri Lanka following the war and especially, after the tsunami.
"I don't think we could have achieved what we have achieved at this moment without the help of all humanitarian workers and the UN organization," he said.
"We had some differences of opinion, however all NGOs and UN were in agreement with us on where we should go. We only differed on how we should get there," the Minister said.
The Minister also sought international assistance to resettle the people, mainly the Muslims, displaced over 20 years ago in the Northwest due to the LTTE atrocities.
Minister Rajapaksa also thanked the UN country office, its director, other country heads in the UN and all donors who helped through UN and directly to the Sri Lanka government.
UN Country Representative Neil Buhne told the gathering that the UN looked forward to support the government to rebuild and recover, and lay a firm foundation for safe lives free from need for all Sri Lankans.
The Sri Lankan government and the UN were at loggerhead recently over the appointment of a panel of experts to advise the UN Chief on Sri Lanka's accountability during the last stages of war with the LTTE.
Government Minister Wimal Weerawansa launched a death-unto fast in front of the UN compound in Colombo to protest against the UN panel. The act prompted the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to recall the UN country Director Neil Buhne to New York for discussions.