lanka

John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

Sri Lanka: UN humanitarian chief condemns attacks on civilians

29 May 2008
The United Nations’ top humanitarian official today condemned the continuing targeting of civilians during fighting in Sri Lanka, saying that more than 200 civilian lives have been lost in the country since the beginning of the year.

Sri Lankan suicide attack condemned by UN human rights chief

11 April 2008
The United Nations’ top human rights official has deplored the suicide bombing last weekend at the start of a marathon in Sri Lanka that claimed the lives of at least 15 people, including a minister in the national Government.

Sri Lanka: UN appeals for protection of civilians following suicide attack

8 April 2008
The United Nations has urged all parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka to do everything they can to protect civilians, after a suicide attack this weekend in the capital, Colombo, claimed the lives of 15 people.

UN agency awaiting access to boat people rescued off Sri Lankan coast

4 March 2008
The United Nations refugee agency has lauded the Sri Lankan Government for rescuing 71 boat people who had been adrift at sea for nearly two weeks, and said it is now awaiting access to the survivors of the perilous voyage.
Displaced Sri Lankans at a camp in the east of the country

UN refugee agency seeks nearly $19 million to aid Sri Lanka’s displaced

28 February 2008
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is appealing for $18.6 million to assist an estimated 500,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka who have been uprooted by decades of armed conflict.

Secretary-General Ban dispatches senior UN official to Sri Lanka

19 February 2008
A senior United Nations political official will tomorrow kick off a week-long mission to Sri Lanka, which has been troubled by violence in recent years, to examine the world body’s work in the island country after a request from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon urges dialogue to halt violence in Sri Lanka following latest attacks

16 January 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the attacks which occurred in Sri Lanka today, killing and injuring dozens – including children – and coinciding with the formal end of a truce between the Government and Tamil rebels.
Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

As Sri Lanka ceasefire ends, top UN official urges respect for human rights

15 January 2008
Following the Government’s decision to end the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement that halted a decades-long conflict with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the United Nations human rights chief has called on both parties to abide by their obligations under international law to protect civilians.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon urges political solution as Sri Lanka truce breaks down

3 January 2008
Secretary-General has underscored the urgent need for a political solution to end the bloodshed in Sri Lanka following the Government’s decision to terminate the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement that halted a decades-long conflict with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Sri Lankan children

Sri Lankan rebels, breakaway faction still recruiting child soldiers – Ban Ki-moon

28 December 2007
The separatist Tamil Tiger rebels and a breakaway group known as the Tamil Makkal Viduthali Pulikal (TMVP)/Karuna faction continue to abduct children to fight as soldiers in the bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a new report made public today.