GOSL: DISPLACING TAMILS FIRST! THEN REFUSE TO COOPERATE WITH ICRC !!!

Controversy stalks aid distribution

By Jamila Najmuddin

Controversy overshadowed the handing over ceremony of Indian aid to civilians trapped in the Wanni yesterday when both the ICRC and the government contradicted each other on who would handle the distribution process.

Indian High Commission officials, led by its head Alok Prasad handed over 1650 tonnes of relief material to ICRC Chief Paul Castello and Essential Services Commissioner General S.B. Divaratna, at the ICRC warehouse in Kelaniya yesterday morning for it to be handed over to the trapped civilians.


Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad and ICRC head Paul Castello inspecting the Indian aid at the ICRC warehouse yesterday. Pic by Dinuka Liyanawatte

However while Mr. Divaratna said the distribution would be handled by the respective government agents in the conflict areas, Mr. Castello said the ICRC would take over the goods from the Indian officials and be the main party to distribute them.

“This is the first time that the Indian Government has assisted the conflict affected population of Sri Lanka through the ICRC and I would like to underline how much we appreciate the trust the Indian authorities have shown in us and its recognition of the ICRC’s work in Sri Lanka to date,” Mr. Castella said in his address to the media.

An ICRC media statement also went on to say that the ICRC would be distributing the aid provided by the Indian government ‘directly’ to the displaced people and to residents affected by the conflict in the Wanni. “We will do so in accordance with our own independent assessment of people’s needs,” Francois Stamm who heads the ICRC’s regional delegation in New Delhi said in the statement.

However when a journalist posed a question to specify clearly as to who would handle the distribution, Mr. Divaratna maintained firmly that the goods would be distributed by the government agents and the ICRC would only facilitate them. When a clarification on the matter was sought by the ICRC head, the news conference was adjourned with ICRC officials claiming that the question and answer session had ended.

Meanwhile, a meeting between government agents in the north, other government officials and the ICRC is due to take place today to finalise the route which will be taken to transport the goods.


When asked what route would be taken, Mr. Divaratna said the government would transport the goods through the A9 passing Vavuniya, Puliyankulum, Nedunkerni and Oddusuddan. Mr. Divaratna also said the government had identified areas where the displaced civilians resided so that it would make it easier for the government agents to distribute the goods.

Addressing the media, Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad said India had dispatched aid to the civilians in the north in keeping with the Indo-Sri Lanka joint statement in which India committed to participate in providing materials to Sri Lanka. Mr. Prasad said India also handed over the goods to the Sri Lankan government as a goodwill gesture.
courtesy:dailymirror.lk