Services of UNICEF consultant terminated

The Country Office of UNICEF in Sri Lanka has informed the Foreign Ministry that the services of Ms. Lisa Woods, a Communication Consultant who was fined by the Court for being in possession of 80 mg of heroin was terminated. Consequently she left the country on March 28.

Ms. Wood, a US national, had arrived in Sri Lanka on March 5, this year to work with the UNICEF on a four-month assignment to assist the updating of the UNICEF website and to write donor reports.

Ms. Wood was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, of a private hospital in Colombo on March 12, as she was found unconscious in her Hotel.

She was placed under arrest by the police for possessing heroin and produced before the Colombo Magistrate on March 25.

The Government appreciates the co-operation extended by UNICEF to the law enforcement authorities and for the immediate administrative measures taken against the officer.

The Government reiterates the need for international organizations to exercise due diligence when appointments are made to ensure the high standard of integrity and conduct of their staff. This will require a thorough assessment of the individual staff members including previous records to satisfy that the staff member concerned possesses an unblemished record. Such measures would avoid any negative consequences on the concerned agencies by the personal conduct of its officials.