Colombo: The International Committee of the Red Cross, which was engaged in humanitarian operation in conflict-ridden Sri Lanka since 1987, has closed down its only remaining operation in the north of the country.
Following its decision to shut down the Jaffna offices in February, the ICRC said it is now also closing down its office in Vavuniya.
"The ICRC has closed its office in Vavuniya after the Sri Lanka government requested the organisation to run its operations exclusively from Colombo," a statement said.
The ICRC has operated in Sri Lanka since 1987 during the civil unrest following the Marxist JVP’s second insurrection protesting against Indian intervention in Sri Lanka.
When the LTTE’s separatist campaign escalated since the early 1990s, the ICRC became active in the troubled north and eastern conflict regions.
The ICRC facilitated the transfer of medicine and transportation of the conflict dead to and from the former LTTE-held areas.
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