“Japan welcomes that, in the past few days, nearly 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) in the northern part of Sri Lanka controlled by the LTTE have moved to the area controlled by the Government of Sri Lanka”, states in Statement issued April 23 by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Humanitarian Situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Sri Lanka.

It also condemned the attempts of the LTTE to prevent the civilians to leave the war zone. Concerning the many IDPs remain in a difficult situation, called upon the LTTE to disarm and allow freedom of movement of these civilians.

Japan also continues to call upon both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to respect international humanitarian laws and ensure the safety of IDPs within the combat zones.