Dr Veenstra said the system was still in development, so it was not yet suitable for a routine screening programme.

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From New York Mr Ban issued a terse statement grumbling that the Sri Lankan authorities had failed in their duty to prevent disruption to the UN offices and adding that the UN Development Programme regional centre in Colombo would close (it had earlier been marked for scaling down).

ECONOMIST: Sri Lanka and the UN: Fast foes | The

But while there may be short term gains for firms involved in research and development, the programme may eventually be crippled by it expense, he added.

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It wants the army to withdraw from a town near San Vicente, and consumer countries to pay for an alternative development programme and tourist centre there.

ECONOMIST: Colombia