UN Envoy &;amp; British Development Minister Freely Speak to Vanni Displaced

UN UNDER-SECRETARY-General for Humanitarian and Emergency Relief-Coordinator Sir John Holmes and British Minister for International Development Mike Foster, now in Colombo on the invitation of the Government, undertook two separate visits to Vavuniya Monday (27) to meet with Internally Displaced Persons, military and respective civil administrative authorities. 

Mr. Holmes, accompanied by the newly-appointed Competent Authority for Relief Operations Major General G.A. Chandrasiri and UN country representative Mr Neil Buhne was received at Omanthai Entry-Exit point by Commander, Security Forces Vanni, Major General Jagath Jayasuriya on arrival in Vanni. 

The visiting delegate later on supervised arrangements in place at this gateway for receipt and screening of displaced civilians streaming into cleared areas and raised several concerns with military authorities. Mr. Holmes saw for himself the presence of ICRC and UNHCR officials in their offices at the Entry-Exit point and expressed his pleasure about their services. The access, given to ICRC and UNHCR officials  for safe conduct and follow-up of routine formalities for those arriving there, were closely reviewed by the envoy during the course of the discussions at Omanthai.   
        
Mr. Holmes, prior to his Omanthai visit spoke to a cross section of the displaced people in Manik Farm and Chettikulam Relief Villages where he moved about with those people freely for some time.

Meanwhile, British Minister for International Development Mr. Mike Foster who is in Sri Lanka on a brief visit arrived in Vavuniya this morning (27). He later on inspected Tamil Maha Vidyalaya and Gamini Maha Vidyalaya IDP centers where some 6000 displaced Vanni civilians remain housed. Major General Jagath Jayasuriya conducted him and his retinue to those two IDP centers and facilitated his movement inside those IDP centers. 

The Visiting Minister, contended with arrangements in place further inquired into the additional requirements, needed for smooth conduct of those centers. Major General Jagath Jayasuriya appreciating the British Minister’s offer requested him to provide necessary assistance through the Government at the earliest as the Government alone would find it difficult to support those refugees continuously for a longer period.