News

President rejects UN funds for HR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed that the implementation of Sri Lanka’s National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) should be carried out only with government funds and not funds from a UN agency.

The directive, just two days ahead of the official release of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) final report, came at the weekly Cabinet meeting. Government spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella announced at a news briefing on Thursday that the Cabinet had approved the implementation of the plan. He said that the Cabinet had approved the Action Plan itself in September, this year.

A Cabinet Memorandum obtained by the Sunday Times revealed that Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries and the President’s Special Envoy on Human Rights, had sought cabinet approval to obtain US$ 150,000 (Rs 15 million) from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In the Cabinet Paper, Mr. Samarasinghe notes, “that the preparatory work connected with drafting Sri Lanka’s National Human Rights Action Plan, editing and finalization since late 2008 has been achieved under external project funding secured by my efforts; the responsible unit being initially situated at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, and, presently at the Ministry of Plantation Industries.”

He has said that the costs “involved in all aspects of the preparatory work including drafting, co-ordination, supporting the meetings and consultations, preparation of documentation, translation, proofreading and printing in three national languages, the development of the website, the launch event and associated costs, have been drawn on Government of Sri Lanka resources, but have been secured from external sources under two successive UNDP supported projects.”

He has said that the present project is due to be concluded on December 31. Therefore, Mr. Samarasinghe said, “external funding has become essentially necessary to ensure the continuity of dissemination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation activities of the NHRAP without having recourse to Government funds.”

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
President rejects UN funds for HR
Remove 'Race' from all documents: CR
Harry bought oil from blacklisted Swiss giant; probe by minister
UNP: No election today
UN studying the LLRC report, but rights groups see holes
Petitioner’s claim of bias cannot now be withdrawn, says Judge
Top scientists brainstorm on ways to propel Lanka into the future
Bank directors to quit on Central Bank ruling, get interim relief
Former House SG’s appointment to UNP WC irks Govt.
Pregnant Asst. Div. Sec. found dead at home
Scrapping tax officer posts may affect Govt. revenue
Seven-member House committee to improve discipline, security within
Bar council opposes probe on retired CJ
Attempt to probe COPE findings shot down
White elephant Parliament Scholarship Board to be abolished
Wedding party ends in triple tragedy
Nelum Pokuna theatre in infographics
High prices dim bright Christmas
Protests islandwide and abroad over two activists who went missing in Jaffna
Suspended website to operate under conditions
President intervenes in Natha Devale land dispute
Education Minister cut off from ‘Z’ score of A/L exam
Veggie, fruit farmers boxed in by ‘Crate Law’
Thrill-seekers take jumbo-size risks
Illicit fishing practices: Livelihood of 15,000 endangered
Learning entrepreneurship from neighbours

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2011 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution