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The United Nations, whose sprawling bureaucracy is largely known to move at the pace of a paralytic snail, came under fire last week when Sri Lanka accused the Secretariat of being lethargically unresponsive to some of the key issues — over the forced scaling down of its peacekeeping troops — outlined in a letter sent to the UN nearly a month ago.

Addressing the UN’s Administrative and Budgetary Committee, Sri Lankan delegate Sithara Khan said: “My delegation is bringing these issues to light having been unfairly subjected to a procedure of a dubious nature by the Secretariat with the Department of Peace Operations (DPO).”

She pointed out that the DPO, in its process of unilaterally deciding punitive action, violated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a sovereign country, while challenging the decision of a Head of State.

“Further, it is also extremely regrettable that the Secretariat to date has failed to formally reply the written communications addressed on the relevant aspects of the matter for over a month. It is basic and important to have formal communications in order to avert confusion and misunderstanding on information provided verbally. We must ensure that such a misplaced process should not be allowed to be systematised, in order for professional ethics of the organisation to be secured,” she declared.

“Further, despite being a regular contributor to the UN Peacekeeping Operations budget since 1960, Sri Lanka wishes to seek clarity on the possibility of a Member State scaling down the related financial contribution commensurate to the curtailment of its deployment, that too which has been initiated by the Secretariat in violation of the related MoU.”

Referring to the UN’s current financial crisis, which has threatened to bring the Organisation to a near standstill because of non-payment of dues by more than 60 member states, Ms Khan said that Sri Lanka for its part has discharged its financial obligations in paying its assessments to date, despite many domestic priorities.

Currently Sri Lanka has a total of 651 troops in peacekeeping missions overseas as against the top three troop contributors: Ethiopia 7,052 troops, Bangladesh 6,411 and India 6,173.

In September, the UN suspended future Sri Lankan troop deployments on peacekeeping operations after the President appointed Lt Gen Shavendra Silva as the Army Commander.

The UN expressed its concern to the Sri Lankan Government over the appointment, “despite well-documented, credible allegations of his involvement in serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq said in New York at the time.

The UN DPO therefore decided to suspend future Sri Lankan army deployments except where suspension would expose UN operations to serious operational risk.

Deshapriya apologises but defends the drain

National Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, this week apologised to the media for shortcomings reported in these columns during the nominations day on October 7.

A highlight of the report on this page was the absence of audio on a digital screen placed in the media enclosure. There were also complaints from the media that there was a bad stench from the drain over which their enclosure was built. A photograph of the drain appeared last week.

Mr Deshapriya said, “There was criticism; we are apologizing for that. In one of the English newspapers it was said that in our digital screen we placed, we set up in front of the secretariat only had images and had no audio. They said that they were only able to see the moving of the lips of myself. They also have said that the drain emitted a foul smell.

“However, as I know, the drain was not that smelly as it washed with water mixed with chlorine. It is not a drain that carries wastewater. However, there was no other way to provide them with a better place.

“We think there were more facilities provided to the journalists than facilities provided for Independence Day coverages to journalists.

On that day after nominations, I visited the journalists and spoke with them. The journalists are the ones who take the message to the people.”

Polls chief Mahinda Deshapriya telling journalists about his trials and troubles in conducting the November 16 presidential election . Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara

Polls chief pours out his woes

National Election Commission (NEC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya this week addressed the media. One of his concerns was the large number of candidates contesting the upcoming presidential election.

Mr Deshapriya noted that the record number of candidates had made the budget to skyrocket way beyond initial estimates, though the cash deposits to be paid to contest the presidential election had not changed since 1982.

While the NEC had earlier estimated that the election could cost Rs. 5 billion, the NEC Chairman said he had written to the Treasury noting that the cost could go as high as Rs. 7 billion.

He had a solution as well for the issue; “If we had their deposit money in dollars or euros, none of this would be a problem,” he quipped, adding that the amount of the deposit money should be increased. “Some candidates claim they are contesting to bring their ideology before the people. Why would you need Rs. 7 billion to do that?”

He also explained as to why most complaints made via Facebook were not reaching the NEC.

“All the young people and most others in the country have smartphones. They can complain via WhatsApp or Viber to our 24 -hour hotline or use the ‘Tell Commission’ feature on our Facebook page.

“Unfortunately, what a lot of them do on FB is to tag me in posts and these days, I’m so busy that I don’t get to go through them till 1 or 2 in the morning,” he said.

Former minister snubbed by SLPP

A former minister approached SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and sought a placement in the National List for Parliament if the party won the general elections.

Mr Rajapaksa did not hide his feeling when he said it was not possible. To avoid being bogged down, the man made a direct foray into the Premadasa campaign.

He is now seated at their events and hoping he would enter Parliament through their National List.

Foreign spies here for polls

Perhaps for the first time, some foreign intelligence agencies are showing greater interest in the presidential election on November 16.

Some have turned up in Colombo from their home stations, of course under cover, to see how the political parties are fighting it out.

Of concern to them, it appears, is the role of foreign nations and their links to the different parties.

Former minister snubbed by SLPP

A former minister approached SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and sought a placement in the National List for Parliament if the party won the general elections.

Mr Rajapaksa did not hide his feeling when he said it was not possible. To avoid being bogged down, the man made a direct foray into the Premadasa campaign.

He is now seated at their events and hoping he would enter Parliament through their National List.

Foreign spies here for polls

Perhaps for the first time, some foreign intelligence agencies are showing greater interest in the presidential election on November 16.

Some have turned up in Colombo from their home stations, of course under cover, to see how the political parties are fighting it out.

Of concern to them, it appears, is the role of foreign nations and their links to the different parties.