UN team here to discuss food supply to Jaffna

A two-man UN delegation is expected in Colombo shortly to discuss modalities regarding a fresh initiative to establish a safe sea route to and from the Jaffna peninsula. The delegation is expected to meet Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in this regard after President Mahinda Rajapakse addressed outgoing UN General Secretary Kofi Annan on the facilitation of supplies to the Peninsula.

The Island learns that on the UN Chief’s directive, Jan England, Under Secretary General of UN Humanitarian Affairs recently raised the issue with Samarasinghe. A senior government source said that the UN delegation would be here soon to discuss the proposal.

"We want UN protection to move supply ships," the official said. He emphasised that the government wanted Jaffna bound ships to fly the UN flag. The move to involve the UN came against the backdrop of the ICRC’s refusal to help unless both the government and the LTTE provide security guarantees. Demanding the re-opening the Muhamalai gateway on the Kandy-Jaffna road, the LTTE vetoed the move. The LTTE prohibition came into effect after the first ICRC facilitated ship movement in August.

The Island learns that the ongoing arrangement to move supplies under the aegis of the Sri Lanka Navy is not economically feasible. Since the closure of the Muhamalai gateway, the SLN is entrusted with the task of moving supplies to Jaffna. Military officials said that the Navy and Air Force could not cope with the growing task, particularly as their primary concern was keeping security forces and police deployed in the Peninsula and Jaffna islands adequately supplied.