UN Assistant Secretary-General attends CCHA meeting

UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Angela Kane, currently in Sri Lanka on a visit to review the work of the United Nations Country Team in all key areas, attended the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance [CCHA] meeting at the invitation of Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. Two visiting senior ICRC officials were also invited to attend the meeting.

Chair of the CCHA Minister Samarasinghe explained to Kane that on the request of the Co-chairs to the Peace Process, President Mahinda Rajapaksa made a decision to form an apex body which would meet to form high-level policy decisions enabling international and Government partners to work together to consider and resolve key humanitarian issues.

The Minister stated the CCHA is a model of best practice that can be emulated in other countries that face similar challenges; the CCHA represents the commitment of the Government to address any shortcomings and take positive steps to ensure that policy formulated at the national level is implemented on the ground.

This is a dynamic process that requires constant consultation, feedback and follow-up, resulting in rapid response to humanitarian issues.

The Minister added, that with effective systems in place, Governments, the UN and other international stakeholders can work together to address humanitarian and emergency situations; this is the message that Minister Samarasinghe hopes Ms Kane will take with her following her visit to Sri Lanka.

Kane, speaking at the end of the meeting, said she was impressed by what she saw at the CCHA. "It is a good example of how practical humanitarian issues can be tackled through dialogue and cooperation."

She thanked the GoSL for facilitating her visit to Batticaloa and was encouraged by the steps taken to improve security presence, particularly in areas with IDPs. She further said that she was encouraged by the work carried out in the district, for example by the "go and see" visits for IDPs to areas of resettlement. She reiterated that security and livelihood development for the people of the East is critical.

Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, explained to Ms Kane that a security plan for the East has already been implemented, with increased police presence to ensure a peaceful election.

There are 800 candidates contesting the elections - two police officers have been allocated for the security of each candidate, individual candidates can decide if they wish to make use of this security. Secretary Defence, said that the police are under strict instruction that no one, other than law enforcement authorities, is permitted to carry a weapon, anyone found in possession of a weapon will be arrested.

One of the key outcomes of the CCHA meeting was a plan, presented by the Defence Secretary to minimise delays and inconveniences faced at the Medawachchiya checkpoint. Senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa also stated that the Government will look at increasing personnel at both Medawachchiya and Omanthai checkpoints, which will ease delays in checking vehicles and personnel.