U.N. envoy in Sri Lanka

2 December 2013 09:26 pm

The U.N. special envoy on human rights of internally displaced persons arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday to examine the status of people rendered homeless by the country’s three-decade civil war.

Chaloka Beyani, Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, said he intended to meet all stakeholders during his five-day visit.

“I will gather first-hand information from all parties, including displaced persons and affected communities themselves,” he said.

“I will also look at the challenges and opportunities for durable solutions for IDPs, while I discuss the progress made with regard to their protection and assistance.”

He will visit the former war-torn districts of Jaffna and Mullaitivu in the Tamil-dominated north. Mr. Beyani will meet representatives from the government, civil society and the U.N. He will present preliminary observations through a written statement shortly after the end of his mission while a full report will be presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council in June 2014. (Source: The Hindu)