North de-mining: UN pledges support

Lakshmi DE SILVA

United Nations Assistant Director (Administration) Jorden Ryan pledged UN support to expedite the ongoing de-mining process in the north when he met the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Minister Rishard Bathiudeen at his Ministry yesterday, official sources said.

Ryan was on an official visit to find out whether the UN assistance for resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons, activities aimed at their welfare were sufficient or whether any further aid for these services were needed, sources said.

He expressed satisfaction about the welfare measures being implemented by the Government for the IDPs and the plan to resettle them within 180 days as well as the two year national development program of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said the UN would support these programs.