Colombo suicide attacks: UN chief condemns

United Nations, Nov 29: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the twin suicide attacks in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, which killed 17 and wounded 37 people.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson yesterday, the Secretary General condemned the attacks, which occurred outside the Ministry of Social Services building and in the Nugegoda area, and offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Mr Ban also voiced concern about Tuesday"s aerial attack in the town of Kilinochchi in which the office of the UN World Food Programme was damaged.

''The secretary-general appeals for an end to the destructive spiral of violence in Sri Lanka and calls on the parties to the conflict -- government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam -- to return to the peace process while making every effort to ensure the protection of civilians,'' the statementa added.

UNI