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Bogollagama
wants UN to monitor its staff
Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has stressed
the need for the United Nations to monitor its local staff
to ensure that they will not breach the Sri Lankan Government’s
security regulations.
Bogollagma met UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis last week in
New York, where he briefed Dervis on some house-keeping issues
with the UN that the Minister had helped resolve, since he
assumed office.
The Minister also stated that some other issues of mutual
concern were addressed pragmatically during the visit of UN
Assistant Secretary General Angela Kane to Sri Lanka in February
2008. He remarked that in overall, Sri Lanka–UN relations
were on a sound footing and that development work and delivery
of humanitarian services were proceeding smoothly.
Responding to a query from Dervis, the Minister stressed the
need for the UN to be extra-cautious in monitoring the conduct
of its local staff. This was following the recent arrest of
a local employee of the UNDP, who was detected at a check-point
carrying a micro-pistol intended for use by the LTTE. It was
important that the UN Office in Colombo ensures that its local
staff did not breach government security regulations.
Minister Bogollagma drew the attention of Dervis on a new
tactic used by the LTTE – moving its military facilities
and offices closer to UN locations in the un-cleared areas
and stressed that the UN should warn the LTTE to desist from
such action, lest it causes unnecessary collateral consequences.
The Minister also apprised the UNDP Administrator of the government’s
roadmap for the restoration of democracy in the east and the
appointment of a task force for development work in the north.
Dervis also assured the Foreign Minister, the UNDP’s
support for the Sri Lankan Government’s development efforts.
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