Mohan Samaranayake, National Information Officer of the UN office in Colombo, speaking to Adaderana today stated that the UN has not closed down any UN offices in Sri Lanka. He also said that the UN office in Colombowill be continuing working today.
However UN spokesman Farhan Haq said at a media conference yesterday said that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is closing the UNDP office in Sri Lankaand temporarily recalling its head official there because of the government’s handling of protests aimed at the world body.
Samaranayake further clarified that the UNDP Sri Lanka office will continue its operations here. However UNDP regional office located atIndependence Squarehas been relocated to Bangkokaccording to a decision made earlier in the year. Because of this decision to relocate, about half of the employees in the UNDP have been laid off earlier, he said.
