2nd lead (Adds correction)

NE development conference to be held in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 January 2004, 06:11 GMT]
The political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan, is to preside over a high-level development conference at the Kilinochchi Development Secretariat on Monday, January 19, sources said. The representatives of the Sri Lanka donors' summit held in Tokyo in Japan last year are scheduled to meet in Colombo on January 23 to review the present political situation in Colombo, and the Kilinochchi conference will be a prelude to that meeting, the sources said.

The representatives will review their role in extending financial aid for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the war-ravaged North-East province, sources said.

The Kilinochchi conference is expected to study in detail the implementation of ongoing development projects and the proposed projects in the province.

The Chief Secretary of the North East Provincial Council, Mr.S.Rangarajah, has requested all his provincial ministry secretaries and heads of provincial heads of government departments to be present at the conference Sunday.

Project Directors of all World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded development projects, such as the North East Integrated Irrigation Project (NEIAP), the North East Community Restoration Development (NECORD) project, the North East Emergency Rehabilitation Project (NEERP), the Conflict Affected Areas Rehabilitation Project (CAARP) and the North East Coastal Development Project (NECDEP) will also attend the Kilinochchi conference, provincial sources said.

Heads of all higher education institutions and technical colleges in the NorthEast are also to attend the Kilinochchi conference, the sources said.

Representatives of international aid agencies based in Colombo are also expected to attend the conference.