* US to help Sri Lanka with its demining program to facilitate rapid resettlement of IDPs

Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 11:21 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

June 30, Washington, D.C.: The United States is to provide additional funding for the demining organizations in Sri Lanka to help the Sri Lankan government with its demining program, Robert O. Blake, Assistant Secretary of the State Department for the South and Central Asian Affairs said today.
The former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka at a press briefing today said the US is looking forward to seeing a plan from the Sri Lankan government about demining, and how the government is going to work with international NGOs.
Reminding that the Sri Lankan government has pledged to resettle at least 80% of the internally displaced persons(IDPs) by the end of the year Blake said the demining would enable the rapid resettlement of the almost 300,000 IDPs in the camps.
"We hope that these pledges will be met and we look forward to working with the Government to help them meet these commitments, particularly on the demining program," he added.
Responding to a question Assistant Secretary Blake said the Sri Lankan government has taken some steps on the humanitarian side and the government is committed to try to do more.
"International access has improved inside the camps in Sri Lanka. International NGOs and other humanitarian organizations are able to get goods and services into the camps now, largely without restrictions. But there are still some issues with regard to access of the ICRC, which performs important protection works inside the camps," he said.
"Broadly speaking, I think, the government is committed to try to do more. For example, I heard last week that fishing restrictions have been eased all over the island which will help to improve livelihoods for people not just in the North but also in Eastern parts of Sri Lanka," Blake added.
On the subject of South Asia Assistant Secretary Blake said India is a preeminent power in the region and he very closely coordinated with his Indian counterpart in Sri Lanka High Commissioner Alok Prasad on Sri Lanka's situation.