ICRC says Sri Lanka govt. has breached confidentiality

The ICRC says the GoSL has used their exclusive reports on confidential findings in order to reject US annual statement on human rights.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ICRC has strongly condemned decision by Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry to use the findings to establish that disappearances and extra judicial killings have reduced in late 2007.

"Extra-judicial killings and disappearances are part of a terrible pattern of abuse in Sri Lanka, which must be stopped," ICRC's head of operations for South Asia, Jacques de Maio said.

Extra-judicial killings and disappearances are part of a terrible pattern of abuse in Sri Lanka, which must be stopped Jacques de Maio, ICRC

However the ICRC has decided not to engage in a public debate over number of disappearances, the statement added.

The organisation that works on assisting and protecting victims of armed conflicts says it maintains an 'ongoing dialogue' with GoSL and the LTTE in Sri Lanka.

Urging both parties to put an end to violations of international law, the ICRC said that it "remains committed to pursuing its confidential contacts" with the GoSL as the most effective way to help victims of rights violations.

However, the Sri Lanka government maintains that the number of violations has gone down recently.

	Dr. Kohona says he was disappointed over ICRC statement

Sri Lanka's foreign secretary Dr Palitha Kohona told BBC correpondent Roland Buerk that he was deeply disappointed by the Red Cross's statement.

International anxiety over human rights is potentially extremely serious for Sri Lanka's Government, which is fighting a renewed war aimed at crushing the separatist Tamil Tigers.

The European Union has also expressed very serious concerns, and noted that trade concessions are up for review.

They've helped make garment exports a mainstay of the island's economy.