(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The United Nations has said that it was exploring the provision of a broad package of assistance to Sri Lanka at the request of Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran.
Stéphane Dujarric, UN spokesman for the secretary general, said the UN supports the government and the people of Sri Lanka and their efforts to advance reconciliation and accountability as evidenced by commitments made by the secretary general and during the under-secretary general Jeffrey Feltman's recent visit to Sri Lanka.
"In this regard, we're exploring provision of a broad package of technical and financial assistance at the request of the chief minister, also including the support of the Northern Province to bolster citizen confidence in the peace process," the spokesperson said on Friday.
When asked about Peacebuilding Fund, Dujarric said what is currently under discussion for support by the Peacebuilding Fund are "initiatives to advance the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka by resettlement of internally displaced persons, national reconciliation, strengthening human rights mechanism, and ending impunity."
He asserted that the UN support is always based on the basis of inclusive and participatory consultations with all key stakeholders.
"And my understanding is that already $1mn have been already dispersed to support resettlement and integration initiatives for the remaining internally displaced people in the north and east on land that's been on seized land that have been returned by the government. For the rest, we continue to consult with the government of Sri Lanka and the northern provincial council and all key stakeholders to finalise the UN support," he said.
When asked whether the Peacebuilding Fund support is not for a domestic accountability mechanism, the UN spokesman said whether it was domestic or international, that will need to be determined and the UN was obviously awaiting the High Commissioner's report and recommendations to make that decision.
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