New York/Colombo - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticized on Tuesday Sri Lanka's expulsion of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) spokesman and said he plans to take up the matter with the country's leader. The Sri Lankan government cancelled James Elder's visa without giving a reason, but it was widely believed that he was being expelled for recent remarks about the plight of refugees living in government-controlled camps in the north of the country.
In Colombo, UNICEF strongly protested the expulsion, saying it was extremely "concerned and disappointed" with the Sri Lankan government's decision.
Ban expressed "full confidence in the work of the UN in Sri Lanka, which includes making public statements when necessary in an effort to save lives and prevent grave humanitarian problems."
"The UN is working impartially to assist the people of Sri Lanka, and the government should be supporting and cooperating with its efforts," Ban said.
He said he would discuss the issue with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the earliest opportunity and urged him to implement all commitments he made in May.
"Through Mr Elder, UNICEF has consistently spoken out against the suffering of children on both sides of the intense hostilities earlier this year and called for their protection. UNICEF unequivocally rejects any allegation of bias," UNICEF chief executive Ann Veneman said in a statement released in New York.
"UNICEF has always upheld the principle of impartial advocacy and communication on behalf of children as a fundamental part of its global mandate," she said. "UNICEF will continue to uphold its mandate in Sri Lanka, and elsewhere, to advocate and speak out on behalf of vulnerable children and women."
The Sri Lankan government has so far made no official statement on the expulsion.
Elder, who holds an Australian passport, had been working for UNICEF in Sri Lanka since July 2008 and had a residency visa valid until 2010. After his visa was cancelled he was given two weeks to leave.
Elder had been quoted in the media saying that about 270,000 displaced people were suffering hardship due to heavy flooding in the camps after heavy rain in some areas of Vavuniya district.
The population was displaced due to fierce fighting between government troops and rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The fighting ended on May 18 when the rebel leadership was defeated.
The government has been under pressure to resettle the refugees, but it says mine clearing and infrastructure rebuilding must be done first.
The visas of at least 10 foreign workers from non-governmental organizations have been cancelled or not extended over allegations of bias towards the Tamil rebels.
