Suspension lifted on some DERBA projects

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 01:16 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government is likely to lift the suspension on all NORAD's DERBA development work begun in 1998 in the Tiger-controlled areas of the Batticaloa district, North East Provincial Council sources said.

At a top-level conference at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo last week, the question of allowing the NORAD's development program to be implemented in all parts of the Batticaloa district without any discrimination between SLA and LTTE held areas was discussed.

In conclusion, it was agreed to lift the suspension on all projects started under DERBA development program in 1998 in the Tiger-controlled areas in the Batticaloa district.

However, the ban implementing new DERBA development projects in Tiger-controlled areas in the district in 1999 would continue, said an official of the North East Provincial Council, who attended the Colombo conference.

Once the decision of lifting the suspension is received by the NEPC in writing, the authorities would immediately resume all suspended work, an official said.

Mr.K.Balapattabendi, Secretary to the President, chaired the conference, attended by the North East Governor, the Chairman of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority for North, the Chairman of the Finance Commission and several provincial officials.