Rajiva Wijesinha

“ Just 12 incidents of torture over 18 months may be 12 incidents too much, but it is a record of which many countries would be proud. Incidents with regard to security checks, essential given the terrorist methods Sri Lanka has to combat, came to 134, but the only other type of incident in double figures was Domestic Violence at 62, regrettable but not something to lay at the door of the government or the armed forces.
The government provides IDP rations to 97% of the centres, work is available for 100%, and basic foodstuffs are not only readily available but also affordable. ”

“ There are suggestions that the climate for aid workers is increasingly dangerous. The actual figures however indicate that the situation is much better than last year, when there was one particularly bad incident. ”

“ Mr Chairman, this type of monitoring, by a respected UN agency, should be taken note of by our interlocutors. It will make clear that, while we have problems, and welcome aid and assistance to overcome them, as a nation we can be trusted to look after our own. ”