Colombo, July 20 (DPA) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has closed its offices in eastern Sri Lanka after the government called on the organisation to scale down its operations now that the war with Tamil Tiger rebels is over, officials said Monday.
Four main offices of the ICRC located in Eastern Province have been closed down by the organisation, but its operations in Northern Province remain, officials said.
“The ICRC reaffirms its commitment to meet the humanitarian needs of those directly or indirectly affected by the recent conflict,” a brief statement from the ICRC in Colombo said.
The ICRC is the only international aid organisation that remained during the latter part of the conflict in the northern part of the country and played a key role in moving injured civilians from the areas of fighting and escorting food supplies to the area.
The Sri Lankan government early this month called on the organisation to scale down its operations after pointing out that their services were no longer required in certain areas because the conflict had ended.
