|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
President regrets UNP refusal President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in a letter to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed her surprise and regret at his rejection of her offer to have a dialogue on developing a common program for the implementation of humanitarian assistance for tsunami affected areas in the North and East. The envisaged Post-tsunami Operational Management Structure is in fact not a part of the peace process as assumed by him even without being acquainted with its contents but only an administrative arrangement to ensure a more equitable and efficient utilization of foreign aid for post-tsunami reconstruction, the President has reminded the Opposition Leader in her letter. The letter: My dear Mr. Wickremesinghe Developing a Common Program for the implementation of Humanitarian Efforts for tsunami affected area I write in response to the letter dated 6th May 2005 under the hand of Mr. Malik Samarawickrema, Chairman of the UNP setting out the response of your party to the invitation to participate in a discussion chaired by me on 9th May 2005. I wish to convey my surprise and regret at your rejection of a sincere offer to have a dialogue on an important issue of national concern, over-riding party politics. The proposal for the establishment of a Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (which you refer to as the Joint Mechanism) is in fact, not part of the peace process, as you have assumed without even being acquainted with its contents. It is, rather an administrative arrangement consisting of a group of committees with the objective of ensuring a more equitable and efficient utilisation of foreign aid for post tsunami reconstruction within a limited area of two kilometres from the coastline in six districts of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The LTTE has agreed that there is an urgent need for all communities to co-operate on humanitarian grounds, in the face of the common `adversity and that the Government and the LTTE together with elected representatives of the affected communities, especially the Muslim people will have resolved to work together in good faith,in recognition of this humanitarian need in the six districts of Amparai, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Trincomalee. With regard to the document handed to me by you on 25th January 2005 this refers to reconstruction work already being implemented by the Government with the support of others throughout the country. The program for the implementation of Reconstruction of Tsunami affected areas seeks to use foreign aid allocated to address the specific needs of the affected areas in six districts of the North and East by providing the participation of all affected communities, in an equitable and non-discriminatory structure that will be both transparent and accountable, inspiring confidence among the affected people and the donor community.The deliberate avoidance of this opportunity to receive a briefing on the main features of the proposal and of contributing your views on it, in keeping with the best traditions of the democratic process, is deeply regrettable. Your sincerely Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
