MEDIA RELEASE The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva

Monday, 28 September 2009

On a request made by Hon Basil Rajapakse, MP, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province, and subsequent discussions that Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister for Disaster Management & Human Rights had with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Mr. Antonio Guterres, Hon Minister was able to secure US Dollars 5 million from the UNHCR to enable the government to purchase 10 flailing machines in order to further accelerate the de-mining programme in the North. This outright grant was confirmed today in Geneva at a meeting between Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe and the High Commissioner for Refugees on the sidelines of the ongoing UNHCR Executive Committee meeting, which was also addressed by Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe.

Responding to Hon Mahinda SamarasingheƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s statement, Mr Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees stated that he was happy about the open and frank discussion that the government had with Prof Walter Kalin, Representative of the UN Secretary General on Human Rights of IDPs. Mr Guterres further stated that the UNHCR was strongly committed to support the de-mining programme in Sri Lanka.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations

Geneva

28 September 2009