New procedures for UN

The government is to introduce special procedures for UN agencies traveling to the north in order to differentiate them from local and international NGOs and discussions to this effect with the UN is expected to take place soon, a government official said.

Secretary of the Presidential Task Force S.B. Divaratne told Daily Mirror online that the special procedures will be finalized in a few days afterwhich the government will hold discussions with the UN. “In one or two days we will sit with the UN and sort out all their difficulties. We will also inform them of the special procedures,” Divaratne said.

Currently all international humanitarian workers traveling to the north including the UN need to obtain approval of the Presidential Task Force and the Ministry of Defence. However, Divaratne said that despite granting clearance a lot of INGOs returned back without completing their work which is why they were not allowed to re-enter the areas.

Meanwhile UN sources in Colombo said that the UN were scheduled to meet with the government last week to discuss the easing of travel restrictions imposed on UN foreign staff traveling to the north including Jaffna and Mannar.