Controversy over UNICEF container

* Customs detain container with ‘Meals Ready-to-Eat’
* A UNICEF spokesman said the packets were purely for the use of staffers
* The JVP urged the government to temporarily shut down the UNICEF Kilinochchi office

In a controversial move, the Sri Lanka Customs yesterday detained a container load of ‘Meals Ready to Eat’ (MRE) brought down by UNICEF for use in emergency situations.

Customs director general, Sarath Jayatilake, confirmed that they had detained a container belonging to UNICEF last evening, but said he was unable to divulge more details as the investigations were continuing.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, UNICEF Spokesman Gordon Weiss said that they had brought down a container load of Meals Ready to Eat for the use of United Nations staffers in the country. “Those packets are purely for the use of our staffers based everywhere in the country,” Mr. Weiss said.

He said that the food had been brought down for use in an emergency situation by all UN staffers -- not only those based in the north and east, but also those outside the north and east -- during any unexpected natural or man-made disaster. “Even in our Colombo office we have these food packets stored for use in the event of an emergency,” he said.

He also rejected allegations that these food stocks had been brought down to be handed over to the LTTE: “It is simply incorrect,” he said.

He also claimed that the MREs are considered humanitarian food as they are convenient and also can be kept for a long period. “MREs are used by many organizations around the world, while the UN also provides these MREs for the use of its employees worldwide, in accordance with its global security arrangements,” he said.

He also said that the container of MREs had been cleared by the Sri Lanka Customs earlier. “Now the same authorities have commenced an inquiry into the same container that was cleared earlier,” he said.

Meals Ready to Eat are used, not only by the military, but by other organizations around the world as well.

Meanwhile the JVP raised the matter in Parliament yesterday and urged the government to temporarily shut down the UNICEF Kilinochchi office, alleging that UNICEF was planning to distribute ‘combat rations’ to LTTE cadres.

Responding, Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the government would launch an inquiry into the allegations.

He said that they would investigate whether this food stock had been brought to be given to the LTTE directly or indirectly.