* UN satisfied over Sri Lanka government's handling of the humanitarian situation in North
Sunday, February 22, 2009, 7:21 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Feb 22, Colombo: Sir John Holmes, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator said he was very satisfied with the way the government authorities are handling the humanitarian situation in Internally Displaced People (IDP) centers in Vavuniya.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with the Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe, held last evening at the end of his three-day visit to Sri Lanka Sir Holmes repeatedly urged the LTTE to lay down their arms and enter the democratic mainstream.

The UN envoy said he witnessed how the people in the welfare centers were provided with meals, medicine, and other facilities and he was satisfied with the facilities the Sri Lankan government has provided.

In the press briefing Sir Holmes condemned the LTTE air attack on Friday night over Colombo and called on the LTTE to avoid such attacks that harm the innocent civilians.

Speaking at the occasion Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said the government's main objective is to provide all possible facilities to the displaced civilians who are the real victims of the LTTE.

He assured that the government forces have stopped the use of heavy weapons in the battlefields considering the safety of innocent civilians. However, he said there are infiltrated LTTE cadres among the IDPs and the government is in the process of screening them.