Lankan envoy to UN reassures:

UN aid will flow despite P-TOMS delay

NEW YORK, Friday - The United Nations assistance to tsunami affected persons in Sri Lanka will continue unabated despite the delay in the implementation of the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS), Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN Pradeep Kariyawasam said.

The UN will not waver from its total commitment to assist tsunami affected, Kariyawasam said.

In an exclusive interview with the Asian Tribune's Colombo Bureau Chief, the envoy emphasised the absolute commitment on the part of community of nations to assist the tsunami-hit countries including Sri Lanka.

Asked whether any adverse responses were noted from the donor country representatives at the UN after the Supreme Court ruling on P-TOMS, Kariyawasam replied that the only queries were on how to continue the aid flow. "There were no negative responses at all".

He added that all the tsunami relief and reconstruction plans were continuing without any setback.

"The overwhelming international response also provides a challenge and an opportunity," the ambassador said.

"The challenge is to successfully utilise the pledges in such a manner that the effective implementation of projects give satisfaction for the widespread donor communities on the value of their magnanimity."

"The opportunity is to hold such a successful outcome of full recovery from the disaster as a flagship that makes the international donor communities to sustain their generosity as a valuable tool to alleviate human suffering in this disaster and elsewhere too."

Kariyawasam said that the tsunami catastrophe has a special relevance to Sri Lanka because the tidal wave had also stuck coastal areas in the North-East affected by LTTE activity.

"Admirably the overwhelming public and the state response encompassed all affected areas in the country without any social, ethnic or political considerations.

The feeling for humanity stood tall and not parochial interests," he said.Kariyawasam acknowledged the need to establish a sense of local ownership in all recovery efforts.

"The magnitude of the disaster and its long term effects were such that it became clear that a sustainable recovery essentially requires an effective centrally coordinating mechanism that would work in tandem with district level administration to channel local and foreign assistance," he pointed out.

Without directly referring o the areas held by the LTTE, the ambassador, however said, "Given the initial success manifested by local response and commitment for relief and recovery it was evident that building local capacity and ownership was essential for the success of long term rehabilitation and reconstruction.

To be successful in the reconstruction phase, it requires a partnership with the locality and understanding of specific local conditions as well as projects that will be ultimately owned by the people in the affected areas." (Asian Tribune)