The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) held their regular weekly meeting on Thursday. SLMM noted that SCOPPs initiatives relating to the peace process have had a positive impact on efforts to restore normalcy. Both sides also agreed that SLMM’s new procedure relating to its weekly reporting have had an additional benefit in resolving issues.
In response to SLMM’s question about whether there were procedures in place for handing over child soldiers to their families, SCOPP said it is in the course of streamlining established procedures relating to such issues. SLMM welcomed the move as a positive initiative.
SLMM informed SCOPP that it will deploy five additional international peace monitors to the North and the East.
SLMM noted an increase in the flow of essential items to the Vanni as a result of the extension of the opening of the Omanthai checkpoint (E/Exit) from three to five days a week. SCOPP had sought the extension to increase the flow of goods to Vanni as part of the efforts to restore normalcy. SLMM said it continues to monitor the pricing of essential items.
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