UN SL chief visits North

The newly-appointed head of the United Nations in Sri Lanka is making his first visit to the North, a UN Colombo office said in a release.

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Subinay Nandy, arrived in Vavuniya on Monday on a two-day mission.

He is visiting areas affected by the conflict, Menik Farm IDP camp and seeing first-hand overall resettlement efforts including projects of United Nations humanitarian and development agencies.

Nandy is also meeting government officials and the UN team, the release adds. "My main aim is to hear what the people affected by the conflict have to say about their lives and listen to their hopes and concerns.

From what I have seen so far, there are advances but still considerable challenges in the North facing communities and families who are trying to rebuild and sustain decent lives," Nandy said.

He also said that reconciliation was a key to underpinning a durable peace and a secure foundation for people to re-establish their lives.

Nandy said he would feed his impressions into the overall United Nations response which is supporting the government's programmes in the North.

"The United Nations works with the government, and local government officials to improve lives in the North in a meaningful, sustained manner," Nandy said.