The UN's secretary-general has recalled his top envoy to Sri Lanka and is closing an office in Colombo because of angry protests over a war crimes panel.
Ban Ki-moon said it was "unacceptable" that the Sri Lankan authorities had failed to prevent the disruption of the work of UN personnel in the country.
The demonstrations are being led by the Housing Minister, Wimal Weerawansa.
He earlier urged "progressive nations" to halt the UN probe into whether war crimes were committed in the civil war
Mohan Samaranayake, National Information Officer of the UN office in Colombo, speaking to Adaderana today stated that the UN has not closed down any UN offices in Sri Lanka. He also said that the UN office in Colombo will be continuing working today.
However UN spokesman Farhan Haq said at a media conference yesterday said that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is closing the UNDP office in Sri Lankaand temporarily recalling its head official there because of the government’s handling of protests aimed at the world body.
Samaranayake further clarified that the UNDP Sri Lanka office will continue its operations here. However UNDP regional office located atIndependence Squarehas been relocated to Bangkokaccording to a decision made earlier in the year. Because of this decision to relocate, about half of the employees in the UNDP have been laid off earlier, he said.