[BBC]

One of Sri Lanka’s most controversial diplomats, an ex-army commander, has got a senior post advising the UN secretary general, the government says.

[Full Story]

[CNN]

Sri Lanka’s response to a scathing United Nations report alleging war crimes and human rights violations has reached the president’s desk.

[Full Story]

[UN News Centre]

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated the importance of dealing with accountability issues as Sri Lanka continues to work towards national reconciliation following its long-running civil war.

[Reuters]

Ban formally announced his candidacy for the post of U.N. secretary-general on Monday. So far no other candidate has emerged to oppose him and U.N. diplomats say the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly will likely complete the re-election process before the end of June.

[Full Story]

[UN News Centre]

“I am deeply concerned for the lives of over 100,000 civilians trapped in the 14-square kilometre area of the Vanni declared by the Government of Sri Lanka as a no-fire zone, Walter Kälin, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Representative for the Human Rights of Displaced Persons said following a four-day visit to the island nation. “I believe that a series of humanitarian pauses must be initiated immediately to allow civilians to leave and humanitarian actors to provide life-saving relief to the remaining population,” he said.

[Full Story]