Colombo (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today facilitated the handover to the government authorities of a wounded Sri Lanka Army soldier who had been receiving treatment in the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital, in the LTTE-held area.

The ICRC visited the soldier in the hospital on several occasions to check on his physical well-being and provide him with toiletries, clothing and bed linen. In its role as a neutral intermediary between both parties to the conflict, the ICRC was able to arrange for the soldier to leave the LTTE-held area to receive specialist medical treatment in the government-controlled areas.

For the past three days the ICRC has been negotiating with the parties to secure safe passage for 70 patients, some of them in a serious condition, to Vavuniya Hospital. The patients, who were referred by Ministry of Health doctors, urgently require specialist care available only in government-controlled areas.