United Nations Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe who began his two-day visit to Sri Lanka today toured in the war-ravaged Northern region to witness the progress of the post-war development programs.
Pascoe held meetings with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, and Attorney General Mohan Peiris in Colombo today before departing to Mullaitivu. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunge and the UN country reprsntative Neil Bhune were also present at the meeting.
The USG toured areas in Mullaitivu town and received briefings on the progress as well as on problems in the resettlement process in the Mullaitivu District where more than 40,000 displaced have been resettled.
The Army authorities in Kumarapuram briefed Pascoe on the state of mine clearance from the former war zones.
Pascoe paid a visit to a health clinic in the village of Vattapallai and met with a group of mothers with young children who had been resettled to the area three months ago.
"The United Nations is doing everything it can to help you get back to a normal life now that this tragic war is over," he has assured the women.
USG Pascoe also visited a cooperative store where food rations supplied through the United Nations are distributed to the resettled populations in the North.
He said he was impressed with the post-war development carried out by the Sri Lankan government in the region.
Later in the day the USG will meet Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and the Democratic National Alliance parliamentarian Tian Alles.
Pascoe is scheduled Thursday to meet senior government officials, representatives of opposition and minority parties including Tamil and Muslim leaders, civil society, media and members of the diplomatic corps.
Pascoe's visit is considered as a part of the UN's continuing efforts to assist Sri Lankan authorities to tackle key post-war challenges. The visit is focused on issues covered in the joint statement issued by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Kid-moon and President Rajapaksa in May 2009, including political reconciliation, the return and resettlement of IDPs, and human rights.
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