OTHER NEWS UNP urges people, Police and Forces in their own interest to uproot the gun culture Mobile phone shut down alleged Defence Ministry Additional Secretary replaced Govt. suspends sending workers to Lebanon    Advertisement Print Version | Email to friend UN seeks US$ 146 million as conflict worsens in Sri Lanka Munza Mushtaq 20-03-2008 As the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka took a turn for the worse, resulting in a larger number of displacements amidst other civilian casualties, the United Nations Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) has appealed for US$ 146.2 million for the year 2008 to carry out some 108 projects in the island. The appeal was issued via a Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) by the IASC country team. The 108 earmarked projects will be carried out by 38 organisations in Sri Lanka. The plan focuses on 11 key sectors, to address the needs of conflict-affected communities in northern districts as well as of the 130,000 people in the east of the country, who require support in rebuilding their homes and re-establishing their livelihoods. Requirements covered in the plan include food aid, shelter/non-food items, camp management, protection, economic recovery and infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, water and sanitation, education and nutrition. Of the US$ 146.2 million, US$ 47 million is required to address the most urgent needs during the first three months of the implementation of the plan. The CHAP also stipulates that sustained and safe access to needy populations is a prerequisite to its successful implementation. “While last year’s generous donor response allowed us to implement important projects, I remain concerned about the ability of aid staff to gain access to those in need, especially in conflict areas,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes. “All parties to the conflict must respect the neutrality of aid workers, who all too often put their own lives on the line,” he added. Courtesy Lanka Tribune - Award Winning UK Sri Lanka Newspaper Print Version | Email to friend

UNP urges people, Police and Forces in their own interest to uproot the gun culture Fri, 09-05-2008 18:00:00 Lakshman Kiriella, UNP M.P. speaking to the media today (9 May) , said the Govt. is so sure of losing on a Fair and lawful election on 10th May, is resorting to foul and unlawful activities. He urged the people of the East, the Police and the Forces to think of the country�s future and of their children, and give their might to fight against this dangerous fascist trend which the Rajapakse Govt. is creating along with the LTTE breakaway group, Pillayan. �Today, it is using violence, ... |FULL STORY|

Mobile phone shut down alleged Fri, 09-05-2008 18:00:00 Former Posts and Telecommunications Minister and UNP Chief Candidate for Trincomalee Rauff Hakeem alleged that the government plans to shut down mobile service operations in the East tomorrow. ... |FULL STORY|

Advertisement

Defence Ministry Additional Secretary replaced Fri, 09-05-2008 11:00:00 The Defence Ministry Additional Secretary Susil S. Sirisena has been replaced at the Ministry by retired Air Vice Marshal Ravi Arunthanayagam. Susil S. Sirisena has been appointed as the Secretary of the Foreign Employment Ministry.... |FULL STORY|

Govt. suspends sending workers to Lebanon Fri, 09-05-2008 11:00:00 The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau says it has decided to temporarily suspend sending Sri Lankans to Lebanon due to the prevailing internal conflict situation in that country. ... |FULL STORY|

EVENT REPORTS Songstress Nanda Malini takes UK by storm..[Read] Sri Lankans unite at Bak Maha Ulela in London..[Read] UK Visakhians Elect the 2008-09 Committee at the 25th AGM..[Read] Agents sparkle at SriLankan awards night..[Read]