Top UN official expelled

The Government has ordered a senior United Nation’s official to leave Sri Lanka within two weeks.

James Elder, a senior official with the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), held a visa until July next year to serve in Sri Lanka. He is the first UN official carrying a UN passport with diplomatic status to be asked to leave Sri Lanka. Two week’s time has been given after he appealed from an order to leave immediately.
A UN official said no formal reason had been given for the move by the Sri Lankan government. However, Foreign Office sources, who did not wish to be identified, said the Government was concerned over repeated remarks he had made to the media about Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in particular the conditions of children in camps.
Mr. Elder is the Communications Chief at the UNICEF’s office in Sri Lanka.
Outgoing Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona said Mr. Elder, an Australian, was leaving the country since his visa had expired and he had been granted two weeks time.
“This is not an expulsion but merely the standard procedure that is carried out by the immigration authorities,” Dr. Kohona said without elaborating. Immigration Chief P. B. Abeykoon, however, confirmed that he had been instructed by the government to cancel Mr. Elder’s visa but gave no other details.
At the UNICEF headquarters in New York, senior officials expressed displeasure over the move. They are to raise the issue with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, according to reports reaching Colombo.

Sri Lanka, China are tested friends: Sri Lankan president

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said Friday that Sri Lanka and China are tested friends and his country is gratitude on China's assistance to Sri Lanka in its economic and social development.

Rajapakse made the remarks when he met the visiting delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), led by a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Party chief of China's Tianjin municipality Zhang Gaoli.
Rajapakse said the friendly relationship between the two countries has stood long test and the two countries are tested friends, adding that Sri Lanka has always firmly stood by and will never change its stance on one-China policy.
After conveying greetings of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Rajapakse, Zhang said China appreciated the Sri Lankan government's firm support for the Chinese government's stance on the issues related to Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and human rights.
Zhang congratulated the massive achievement made by the Sri Lankan government on national reconciliation and the development of the country, adding that the Chinese government will continue to support the Sri Lankan government's efforts to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Zhang also expressed his wishes of expanding cooperation between Tianjin municipality and Sri Lankan on the areas of economy, trade, tourism and education, among others.
Zhang also met Maithripala Sirisena, the general secretary of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Karu Jayasuriya, the deputy Leader of the main opposition United National Party on Friday.
The delegation, invited by Sri Lanka Freedom Party, arrived here Friday morning for a two-day good-will visit.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/05/content_11998756.htm