The health ministry is to provide therapeutic milk to children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in hospitals in the Wanni through the UNICEF on the recommendation made by the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA), subcommittee on health. "For all moderately malnourished children, the Regional Director of Health Services would provide children with Thriposha in clinics, under the supplementary feeding programme,' the Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry said quoting Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Kahandaliyanage. While UNICEF agreed to assist in procuring Thriposha, the therapeutic food will be distributed through the national health services to children with SAM in other areas of the country, it said. The Mayor of Batticaloa Ms. P. Sivageetha, also addressed the CCHA and outlined development plans for Batticaloa, which have been formulated in consultation with the public and included programmes designed to expedite the work of the municipal council. Ms Sivageetha stated that as there is now an elected body in the East, the UN, donors and other international agencies should utilize the municipal council when carrying out their projects in Batticaloa. A meeting will be organized in order to promote better cooperation and coordination between the municipal council and agencies carrying out projects in Batticaloa. At Tuesdays meeting of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA), US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert O. Blake and UNICEF Country Director Philippe Duamelle commended the Government on the recent release of 28 children involved in armed conflict by the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) in Batticaloa. This followed the release of 11 children earlier this month. UNICEF expressed their appreciation for the instrumental role played by the Government of Sri Lanka in securing the release and the commitment shown by the TMVP. The Government views the release of these children as further signs of the strengthening of democracy and return to conditions of normality in areas of the Eastern Province. The Government, as part of its zero tolerance policy on the recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, has taken steps to secure the release of and initiate programmes of rehabilitation for children caught up in armed conflict. Chair of the CCHA, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, also expressed appreciation at a joint statement issued by Japan and the European Union at the conclusion of the 17th Japan-EU Summit in Tokyo. Referring to Sri Lanka, the EU and Japan stated that they will continue to monitor closely the human rights situation They welcomed ongoing efforts toward a political solution of the ethnic conflict, including the local government election held in Batticaloa in March and the work of the All Party Representative Committee and encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to work further towards this end. Minister Samarasinghe welcomed the acknowledgement by Japan and the EU in this respect, He assured the CCHA that the government is determined to implement a workable and lasting political solution to the conflict. Minister Samarasinghe read out a letter issued by the Criminal Investigation Department, following an investigation into allegations leveled at the UNICEF on converting a number of vehicles into bullet-proof vehicles and on imported ready-to-eat meals packets for the alleged use of the LTTE. The allegations made have been inquired into and have been established as unfounded. However, investigations revealed that there were certain administrative lapses on the part of UNICEF and the CID has recommended that UNICEF rectify the lapses on their part to the Sri Lankan Customs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was also recommended that the UNICEF print UN logos on the meal packets, prior to usage and necessary approval be obtained from the Ministry of Defence for the meal packs to be transported to the North and East of the country. Philippe Duamelle, Country Representative UNICEF, assured the Government that UNICEF would take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with required administrative procedures.