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Prabha lauds WB
LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has lauded the World Bank for taking control over monitoring of funds provided by international donor agencies and countries for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in northern and eastern parts of the country.

The LTTE chief expressed his gratitude through political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan when he met the visiting Vice President of the World Bank Mieko Nishimizu in Kilinochchi on Thursday.

Mr. Thamilselvan told the visiting delegate that Mr. Prabhakaran wanted to thank the World Bank for taking the responsibility of managing the fund, which has been set up under the Sub Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the north and east. The fund on Thursday drew a further contribution of 3.5 million US dollars for the setting up of the office infrastructure.

The SIHRN main office has been set up in Kilinochchi. The SIHRN fund, though monitored by the World Bank comes under the purview of a Director General whose name has been nominated by the LTTE and includes a Sinhala and Muslim representative each.

The fund would not come under the purview of the local financial regulations as both, the government and LTTE have agreed that the funds will be managed by the World Bank.

"Since the money is coming as a donation it is possible that the funds can be directly channelled and the local Auditor General will have no control over it, a senior Audit official said.

More funds are expected for SIHRN when the Sub Committee prepares its project proposals on specific plans to attract foreign assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.

Peace Secretariat chief Bernard Goonetillake said that soon after the project was approved they would immediately get into action in implementing the projects.

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