Devananda appeals to UN officials:

Consider ground realities

Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda urged the top UN officials to help put an end to the LTTE atrocities and assist innocent civilians who have been brutalised by the outfit. He met UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navaneethampillai, UNHCR Head, Antonio Gutterez and the Secretary General of the International Parliamentary Union Anders Johnson, in Geneva on Friday.

Minister Devananda along with resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishard Bathudeen attended an international confab on ethnic issues held in Geneva, last week.

In his discussion with the top UN officials Minister Devananda briefed them on the current developments with regard to the war front in Vanni and on the states of the IDPs in Vavuniya.

Ministers Devananda and Rishard Bathudeen jointly appealed the UN official to assist in providing necessary relief measures to the IDPs and help them in relocating in their original habitats.

Minister Devananda also urged the UN top officials not to get carried away by the LTTE's adverse propaganda activities, but make their observation based on the ground realities.