Donors put off Kilinochchi visit

HEADS of donor agencies who were to undertake a visit to Kilinochchi yesterday decided to postpone the trip lest it negatively impacted on the build up to the Geneva Ceasefire talks.

The Heads of the World Bank, IMF and ADB put off the visit with the delegation claiming it did not want the visit to have a negative impact on the build up to the talks.

The delegation that was to undertake the visit yesterday comprised Country Director ADB Alessandro Pio, World Bank Country Representative Peter Harold, UNDP representative Jeff Taft-dick and IMF representative Louis Veldivisso.

The meeting with LTTE cadres in Kilinochchi was to review progress of the ongoing development projects and tsunami reconstruction in the North East.

According to a WB communique the postponement was done following consultation with the Government and the LTTE.The visit will be re-scheduled after the Geneva meeting later this month.

"Much hope rests on a successful outcome at the Geneva talks and the agencies did not want to undertake anything that might have a negative impact on the build up to the event" the communique stated.

Meanwhile technical team had proceeded to Kilinochchi to review impediments to implementation of ongoing tsunami and post conflict recovery programmes.

The heads of the Agencies had reiterated their commitment to play their appropriate role in supporting the peace process in Sri Lanka "as peace is the key to sustainable poverty reduction for all Sri Lankans".

The donor agencies in particular expressed their willingness to ensure the provision of support from the ADB, the United Nations and the World Bank for the restoration of livelihoods and humanitarian support in the conflict affected areas of Sri Lanka.