UN LogoUN News Centre logo and link back to News Centre home

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka (file photo)

24 September 2011 –

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the need for a “credible national accountability process” over actions in the final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka during a meeting with Mahinda Rajapaksa, the country’s President.

Mr. Ban reiterated the need for such a process as envisaged in the joint statement he signed with Mr. Rajapaksa in May 2009, when the long-running conflict between Government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended.

“He also underlined the need to find a political solution to the underlying factors of the past conflict,” according to information provided by a spokesperson for Mr. Ban after the meeting between the two officials.

Earlier this month Mr. Ban forwarded a report by a three-member United Nations panel of experts on accountability issues during the civil war to the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The panel found there were credible reports that both Government forces and the LTTE committed war crimes during the final months of the war.

The panel said there were credible allegations against Government forces included the killing of civilians through widespread shelling and the denial of humanitarian assistance. The credible allegations regarding the LTTE concerned numerous serious violations, including using civilians as a human buffer and killing civilians attempting to flee LTTE control.

The panel recommended that the Government respond to the allegations by initiating an effective accountability process beginning with genuine investigations.

It had also recommended a review of the UN’s actions regarding the implementation of its humanitarian and protection mandates during the war and its immediate aftermath.

In response to that recommendation, Mr. Ban has asked Thoraya Obaid, the former head of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), to conduct the review.

News Tracker: past stories on this issue

Ban forwards report on Sri Lanka war crimes to top UN human rights body

Related stories

At UN, Sri Lanka urges tough and consistent global approach against terrorism

Ban forwards report on Sri Lanka war crimes to top UN human rights body

Literacy vital for beating poverty and disease and reinforcing stability – UN

Related press briefings

Press Conference by Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Catherine Bragg, on Recent Mission to Sri Lanka

Press Conference by United Nations Human Rights Expert Concerning Authenticity of Channel 4 Videotape Depicting Extrajudicial Executions in Sri Lanka

Press Conference by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes, on Recent Trip to Sri Lanka

Related press releases

Secretary-General Forwards Sri Lanka Expert Panel Report to Human Rights Council, High Commissioner for Human Rights

Secretary-General Releases Expert Panel’s Report on Accountability with Respect to Final Stages of Sri Lanka Conflict

Secretary-General Holds First Meeting with Sri Lanka Panel of Experts