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| Monday, 10 January 2005 |
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Politics | |
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| Foreign Ministry sets the record straight on misleading reports The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says its attention has been drawn to certain misleading media reports concerning the visit of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan attributed to unnamed UN officials. The Ministry said after it was known that the Secretary General was planning to visit Sri Lanka on his way from the Jakarta Conference on the tsunami disaster, the UNDP Resident Representative's Office, Colombo in their official request dated January 3, 2005 for an itinerary, had proposed visits by the Secretary General to Hambantota, Ampara and Trincomalee. The Government whilst agreeing to these proposals also offered that Secretary General consider visiting Jaffna and Batticaloa, as well. The Ministry said: "Following consultations with relevant line Agencies and taking into account the security, programing and time considerations involved, the UNDP Office and the Government authorities eventually agreed on an itinerary for the Secretary General that included an aerial survey of the affected coast line and on-site inspections at Hambantota and Trincomalee. The Government also offered access and air transport facilities to any member of the Secretary General's delegation to visit any tsunami affected areas in the country including Mullaitivu, an area visited by UNICEF Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, a few days ago. The Government, therefore, rejects any assertion by any quarter to politicise this essentially humanitarian Mission initiated by the Secretary General and gladly hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka." |
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