Clinton to visit Lanka again

Former US President Bill Clinton, the UN's Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, will visit Sri Lanka again shortly. His visit is aimed at reviewing the progress of tsunami recovery measures in Sri Lanka and exploring further avenues for UN participation in such activities.

The UN's Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery Erskine Bowles, who is now in Sri Lanka visiting the tsunami-affected areas, said President Clinton would later meet heads of UN agencies and major NGOs to assess the success of recovery efforts and ensure the proper utilisation of funds.

Clinton, along with former US President George Bush Snr, visited Sri Lanka from February 20-21.

They visited Southern coastal areas to see the damage caused by the tsunami and rehabilitation efforts and met Sri Lankan political leaders.

Bowles, Chief of Staff of President Clinton during his administration, is now touring the region at his request to see first hand the tsunami's impact on people's lives and to asses how the international community has responded to this disaster.

Bowles said that ensuring transparency and accountability in using tsunami-related funds was vital.

The funds must reach the affected people. He said the tsunami recovery were not perfect, but every effort is being made to address those shortcomings and concerns.