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Subsequent to signing
the ceasefire agreement in February 2002, the government
requested the UN system to support the socio economic
aspects of the peace process, through a letter to the
Secretary General. Following the request, there was a
high level UN mission to Sri Lanka in April/May of 2002,
which after consultation with the relevant stakeholders
formulated UN’s strategy to support the Sri Lankan
Peace Process. As a first step, there was a rapid assessment
of IDP needs following the mission, which resulted in
a joint IDP strategy between the government and the
UN system focusing on returning IDP’s. Collaboration
between the relevant UN organizations under this strategy
included areas of Mine Action, Resettlement and Education
etc.
With the start of the peace process, the Peace Negotiating
Process requested through its Sub Committee on Immediate
Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and
East, the UN System to anchor the needs assessment for
the Tokyo Donor Conference. The preparation of the Multilateral
Group Needs Assessment (MGNA) was co-ordinated and
substantively supported by the multilateral agencies
represented in Sri Lanka (The United Nations System,
the World Banks, and the Asian Development Bank) under
the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator. The MGNA,
which was presented at the Tokyo, saw a pledging of
4.5 billion US dollars for the immediate and medium
term needs.
Following the success of the Donor Conference the Multilateral
Agencies realizing that one of the key challenges in
Sri Lanka is to adapt and enhance their existing work
programs over the next 3 years to provide, within their
respective mandates, assistance as effective as possible
to the people most affected by the conflict in Sri Lanka,
embarked upon the formulation of the document “
Preparation
for Transition in Sri Lanka: Contribution of the Multilateral
Group.”
A key objective of this strategy is to strengthen the
MG’s capacity to respond to changing needs and
challenges. Transition involves a complex and shifting
mix of humanitarian, transitional, and developmental
activities. The Multilateral Group through this approach
intends to give more coherence and synergy to the group’s
activities over the next three years. It also serves
as a mechanism to facilitate flexible and proactive
co-ordination and collaboration among the agencies.
Importantly, it will place the MG in a better position
to fully contribute to, and integrate this strategy
into a broader and inclusive national transition framework,
as and when such a framework can be put in place, under
national co-ordination.
Despite the suspension of the peace talks, the UN System
continues to engage in the socio economic aspects of
the peace process in close partnership with the GOSL,
taking advantage of the on-going cease-fire, advocating
and supporting a transition to lasting peace in Sri
Lanka. UN Country Team remains committed in its support
to the Sri Lankan peace process and understands the
importance of both maintaining the momentum of what
has been achieved so far as well as in identifying new
possible areas of assistance. This commitment entails
not only focusing on areas affected by conflicts but
also addressing the island-wide causes and consequences
of the conflict and exploring solutions.
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