Australian envoy, Japanese officials visit Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 July 2005, 20:14 GMT]
Dr.Greg French, High Commissioner of Australia in Sri Lanka, Wednesday paid an official visit to Mannar district and held discussions with the Mannar Government Mr.V.Visvalingam. Australian envoy was accompanied by his Second Secretary (Political Section) Mr. Will Nankerrif and Mr.Alex Knox, Development Programme Specialist in the Australian Agency for International Development, sources said.

Mr.Greg French went to Chilavathurai and inspected the work of the Federal Swedish Demining Group and the progress of resettlement programme of the UNDP, sources said.

Later the Australian team visited Mallavayankattaiadmapan village where more than hundred displaced families have been resettled after the ceasefire agreement came into operation. The village is located on the Mannar-Madavachchi road. The people in the village were displaced when the Sri Lanka Army launched its military operation "Edibala", sources said.

A six-member team of Japanese embassy officials also paid a visit to Mannar Wednesday morning and held discussion with the Government Agent and other officials regarding the ground situation of the district, sources said.