UN cannot deal with North-East directly to provide assistance – Government

Sri Lanka’s government said the United Nations and the Northern Provincial Council will not be able to deal directly with each other on projects providing assistance to the region.
Responding to a statement by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, who last week said the UN was exploring provisions of assistance at the request of NPC Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran, foreign ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne said any support must be provided through the government and not through the provinces.
“There are no major projects except one where only immediate assistance for the resettled people is provided by the United Nations. According to the normal procedure, it will be done through the Ministry of Resettlement. They do not directly deal with the provincial councils,” Ms. Colonne said.