Press Statement issued by the European Union in Sri Lanka

Colombo 23 May 2006

The EU in Sri Lanka deplores the latest incidents which took place against international aid agencies providing humanitarian assistance aid to Sri Lanka: 

• May 15: an employee of Norwegian Refugee Council, Mr Jeyaruban Gnanapragasan, was shot dead on the Puthiyasinnakulam road, 7 km north of Vavuniya town.
• May 21: grenades were thrown in the offices of three INGOs (ZOA Refugee Care, INTERSOS and Non-Violent Peace Force) in Muthur town, Trincomalee, leaving one international staff member injured and offices and equipment damaged.

The EU strongly condemns the deliberate attacks on aid organizations and their staff members. They not only violate international humanitarian law, they also limit the freedom and ability for the NGO, UN and the Red Cross Movement partners to deliver their support to affected populations in Sri Lanka.

The EU – both through the Commission and bilateral Member States’ aid programmes - is supporting humanitarian agencies in Sri Lanka to provide relief, resettlement and rehabilitation support throughout the country. These organizations are now under attack and need effective protection and humanitarian space to be able to continue their valuable work for Sri Lanka.

The EU welcomes the government’s statement yesterday condemning the attacks. But the EU is concerned about the lack of effective follow up on past violent acts and the development of a culture of impunity that the government recognized last week in its address to parliament and pledged to fight against. The EU turns to the Government to follow up its statement by investigating these incidents and bringing prosecutions so that noone is in doubt that such barbaric acts will be tackled.

The EU wishes to underline the importance and positive nature of humanitarian aid agencies’ work in Sri Lanka. NGO, UN and Red Cross agencies are providing their capacity and resources to assist Sri Lankans who are affected by conflict and/or natural disaster, often in areas where no services would otherwise be delivered. This support has proven invaluable to Sri Lanka for many years. However, these same organizations are coming under increasing criticism from many quarters and now open attack.

The EU knows the government is committed to seeing these aid agencies continue their assistance to the people of Sri Lanka. The government's action now in condemning these attacks at the highest level and in ensuring strong investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice will be the most powerful way of showing that commitment.

The EU requested meetings for concerned donor agencies with the Secretary of Defence, Inspector General of Police and relevant ministries to be briefed on follow up.