GAs, LTTE, Harim Peiris meet to discuss North rehabilitation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 November 2004, 11:52 GMT]
Mr.Harim Peiris, Advisor to Sri Lanka's President on the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Reconciliation of the North East, Wednesday held a conference in the circuit bungalow of the Vavuniya district secretariat with the Government Agents of the districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Killinochchi, Mannar and Vavuniya and political activists of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the proposed rehabilitation and reconstruction activities to be undertaken in the northern province, sources said.

''We are now engaged in the reconstruction of war-torn northeast province. This is purely a humanitarian endeavour and has no political agenda behind it,'' said Mr.Harim Peiris when he met with the journalists after the conference, sources said.

Press was not allowed to cover the conference.

Mr Peiris further said three administrative districts in the northeast are under the control of the LTTE. ''We need LTTE 's permission to launch any reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in these districts. LTTE has agreed to extend co-operation for projects to be undertaken in their controlled districts,'' said Mr Peiris.

Holding such conferences in Colombo would not provide any desired results. That's why we decided to hold conference of this nature in affected districts. This was the first in a series of such conferences, said Mr.Harim Peiris.

Opening of the A9 highway for twenty-four hours is not possible but as a first step action has already been taken to extend the present hours of opening, said Mr Peiris in reply to a question.

The removal of high security zone could only take place once permanent peace is found as the matter is related to defence, said Mr.Peiris in reply to another question.