By Charles Haviland BBc News, Colombo

	Mr. Pascoe has observed the post-war challenges at first hand in Mullaitivu

The United Nations’ head of political affairs, Lynn Pascoe, has paid a rare diplomatic visit to the district where the government finally crushed the Tamil Tiger separatists just over a year ago.

In the north of Sri Lanka, tens of thousands of Tamil people displaced by war continue to make their way back from government camps to their original homes in largely shattered villages.

They face major challenges relating to life’s most basic needs – access to drinking water; mothers’ and babies’ health; the need to rebuild homes; the continued threat of landmines or unexploded bombs.

The UN’s under-secretary-general, Lynn Pascoe, has spent the day observing these problems at first hand in Mullaitivu, an area to which civilians only recently started returning, and not far from the scene of the final battle which is still off-limits to visitors.

The government says it is working to secure safe returns as quickly as is practical. Mr Pascoe and two senior White House diplomats, here on a separate visit, are also meeting senior officials.

Press releases from the UN and the US say the issue of accountability after the war is on their agenda.

But another diplomat, Japan’s special envoy, Yasushi Akashi, concluded a visit by saying foreign governments and international organisations should not “dictate” to Sri Lanka at a time when several organisations are calling for an investigation into possible war crimes here.