UN  chief vows to support Rajapaksa in strengthening peace.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday congratulated Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on winning second six-year term in office in the January 26 polls and assured him of all support from the world body in his efforts to strengthen peace and reconciliation in the country. During a 25-minute telephonic conversation with the President, Ban wished success to Rajapaksa in strengthening peace and reconciliation and said the UN would support his efforts in this regard.

Rajapaksa, who had trounced opposition candidate and former army chief Sarath Fonseka in the Presidential polls, apprised the UN chief of current political developments in the country, including the dissolution of Parliament for the April 8 elections. He briefed Ban about his government's commitment to preventing divisions harmful to democracy and conducting another peaceful election, the Presidential secretariat said in a statement.

Rajapaksa informed the UN Secretary General that infrastructure development was the urgent priority of the government, both in the North and East which have been freed from the LTTE control as well as in other parts of the country. The government would be appreciative of assistance in this regard, he said while discussing with the UN Secretary General the role of NGOs in humanitarian and development works.

Rajapaksa expressed his government's willingness to work with international organisations, emphasising the need for foreign NGOs to be accountable and transparent in their work, in view of previous experience in this regard, the statement said. With regard to the special development work in the North, Ban was told that this was being handled by Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Advisor to the President who was fully involved with the task.

 On human rights and related issues, particularly those relating to the concluding stages of operations to defeat the LTTE, the President said an independent committee appointed by him was looking into the contents of the related reports. Rajapaksa said that once this committee submits its report, further action would be taken as considered necessary to bring about greater post-conflict reconciliation.

The UN Secretary General was told that the government looked forward to further progress both in the economic and development spheres, with the participation of investors and other assistance from abroad. The telephone conversation was initiated by the UN Secretary General's office, the statement said.