Buhne recalled, UNDP shut

8 July 2010 04:30 pm - 28 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon has decided to close down the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo and is recalling the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Neil Buhne, to New York for consultations, a UN spokesman in New York announced a short while ago.

The spokesman quoted UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon as saying he finds it unacceptable that the Sri Lankan authorities have failed to prevent the disruption of the normal functioning of the United Nations offices in Colombo as a result of unruly protests organized and led by a cabinet minister of the Government.

The Secretary-General calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to live up to its responsibilities towards the United Nations as host country, so as to ensure continuation of the vital work of the Organization to assist the people of Sri Lanka without any further hindrance.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It is present in 166 countries working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners.

In Sri Lanka the UNDP is involved with poverty reduction, the Millennium Development Goals, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction, Governance and Peace and Recovery.

UNDP began operations in Sri Lanka in 1967. UNDP’s overarching goal is to support the country in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and the reduction of poverty. UNDP pursues this goal by working closely with the Government of Sri Lanka and supporting its agenda and objectives as captured within the framework of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and in line with the government national development strategy, set out in the 'Mahinda Chinthana: Vision for a New Sri Lanka. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 28

Minnal Sri Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:57 PM

It is very sad to hear this news, but we cannot blame the UN for doing this. The UN are not fools!

Rumy Friday, 09 July 2010 11:59 AM

Our politicians do not care about this,They do care only about their pockets

Concerned Citizen Friday, 09 July 2010 06:01 AM

Oh come on....this is silly !!
The UNDP Regional Centre Colombo (RCC) was closed in June!! way before the protests began ...
Maybe Mr. Ban did not know this!

Sunil Wijekoon Friday, 09 July 2010 05:57 AM

This is a government operated drama by placing Wimal Weerawantha as a scapegoat. If Sri Lankan leaders are not guilty of war crimes and human rights violations, why are they so scared to face the world?

Friend Friday, 09 July 2010 05:47 AM

Ultimately this Organized drama of the Government affect poor innocents of Sri Lanka (specially children).

toejoe Thursday, 08 July 2010 11:24 PM

Diplomatic disaster!

wedige Thursday, 08 July 2010 10:58 PM

It is extremely sad that our government cannot understand the worth of the UN. I hope that the UN will understand that not all Sri Lankans are like this.

RP Thursday, 08 July 2010 10:36 PM

We asked for 'trouble' and we are going to get it, 'big time'!

dass Thursday, 08 July 2010 10:08 PM

The UN is not gaining anything from Sri Lanka, except for insults.

Gemba Thursday, 08 July 2010 09:21 PM

This withdrawal is just 'another nail in our coffin'! Thanks MR!

steve Thursday, 08 July 2010 09:15 PM

More and more will have to suffer because of the stupid and selfish acts of our politicians.

D.E.M. Ocracy Thursday, 08 July 2010 08:46 PM

BAN KI MOON STAND FIRM AND STAND YOUR GROUND, 'GELL'WANSE IS ONLY A 'CLOWN'!

Unknown Thursday, 08 July 2010 08:44 PM

I guess this country deserves this? It's sad to see Sri Lanka 'digging its own grave.'

sena Thursday, 08 July 2010 08:04 PM

The EU first and now the UN - it looks like the list will keep growing!

Dr Kamal Naser Thursday, 08 July 2010 05:55 PM

Very sad to hear this. However we cannot complain.

citizen1 Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:46 PM

Does this mean that WW will NOT fast unto death? Darn!!!

citizen1 Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:38 PM

How unfortunate for us!

Janaka Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:32 PM

Now no GSP+ and no UNDP aid for health and education! Let's pay more taxes?!

Dr. Ranjan de Silva Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:28 PM

Sri Lanka's shortsighted politicians are just not educated enough to understand the value of an organization such as the United Nations. Serves Sri Lanka right!

Rahmathullah Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:16 PM

The entire Cabinet, including the President, is collectively responsible for this state of affairs. These politicians are not interested in the welfare of the people. We should 'beat ourselves with our own shoes' for electing them!

dushan Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:15 PM

We are losing international legitimacy ... it is very sad.

Muheed Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:10 PM

It's not good news for us. The Colombo UNDP regional center houses the other UN agencies that operate in Sri Lanka.

rifai Thursday, 08 July 2010 07:09 PM

Who is going to suffer? The poor people not the 'Wansa's'!

N.C.Wijeratne Thursday, 08 July 2010 06:50 PM

So much for diplomacy! Our beautiful country is going backwards so fast!

Lokka Thursday, 08 July 2010 06:46 PM

I guess Wimal got "mooned" by Ban-Ki!

RajasH Thursday, 08 July 2010 06:41 PM

"... Set out in the 'Mahinda Chinthana: Vision for a New Sri Lanka'" - The same 'Chinthana' leading to its closure?

somasiri Thursday, 08 July 2010 06:37 PM

Now the whole country will suffer, for generations!

citizen Thursday, 08 July 2010 06:31 PM

The impact of this is going to be huge! A big loss for Lanka!

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Buhne recalled, UNDP shut

Comments - 28

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