UN chief to press for Sri Lanka reconciliation

The UN secretary-general was saluted by a military honour guard of soldiers in white uniforms upon arrival tonight in Sri Lanka for a 24-hour visit.

Ban planned to fly by helicopter over the devastated war zone in the north,where the Sri Lankan military has crushed a separatist insurgency that had led to a quarter-century of warfare and suicide attacks.

Ban met with Sri Lanka8217;s foreign minister on his arrival,saying his 8220;visit is taking place at a critically important and defining moment in the history of Sri Lanka8221;.

8220;Now that the long decades of conflict are over,it is time for Sri Lankans to heal the wounds and unite without regards to ethnic and religious identity. That is why I am here as secretary-general of the United Nations,to offer help,whatever I can do8221;.

Ban said his first priority is 8220;to ensure that humanitarian assistance is given to many displaced persons. I know that there are more than 300,000 displaced persons who are badly in need of humanitarian assistance 8212; food,water and sanitation8221;.