Aug 10, Colombo: The United Nations yesterday called upon Sri Lanka to disarm the breakaway rebel group, Karuna faction to 'ensure safety and security for aid workers and residents'.

"It is important that the disarmament of the Karuna faction should happen as soon as possible," U.N. Under-Secretary General John Holmes told reporters at the end of his four-day visit to the country.

The visiting envoy also urged the government to investigate accusations of human rights abuses and urgently conclude probes into the killings of 30 aid workers in the last 18 months.

Holmes also stressed the necessity of a "mechanism that allows people to have confidence in the answers that are being given" on incidents related to human rights violations.