Ban arrives in Sri Lanka for first-hand look at post-conflict situation
22 May 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Sri Lanka days after the Government declared that its military operation against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has ended.
UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters today that, during his visit, Mr. Ban seeks to further progress in three key areas: immediate humanitarian relief; reintegration and reconstruction; and an equitable political solution.
Earlier today, his Chief of Staff, Vijay Nambiar, who has been in the country for several days, voiced hope that “the Secretary-General’s visit can help begin a process of national recovery, renewal and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans.”
Mr. Nambiar told reporters in the capital, Colombo, that the national reconciliation process must be “all-inclusive” and address the legitimate aspirations of Tamils and other minorities.
“It is important that victory becomes a victory for all Sri Lankans,” he added.
Over the past week, Mr. Nambiar has visited camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Menik farm in the country’s north, where fighting raged between the Government and LTTE, as well as taking a helicopter ride over the former conflict zone.
The official said he also held meetings with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, other senior officials, diplomats, representatives of humanitarian agencies and political leaders, including Tamil members of Parliament.
During his two-day visit to the South Asian island nation, the Secretary-General will also visit IDP camps and, weather permitting, fly over the area of conflict.
Yesterday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that, according to the Sri Lankan Government, all of those forced to flee their homes have left the conflict zone and have gone through transit points. It has put the total number of uprooted people in camps at 272,000, out of which 251,000 are in Vavuniya.
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