U.N. chief arrives in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, May 22 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon landed Friday in Sri Lanka to get an in-person look at what needs to be done after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers.

The United Nations leader's focus is on immediate aid for those displaced by the fighting, reintegration of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority and a political solution to the divisions in the country, his spokeswoman, Marie Okabe, said.

The government declared a final military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam this week, ending a civil war that divided the island nation for a quarter century. Thousands of Tamil civilians are now living in refugee camps.

Vijay Nambiar, Ban's chief of staff, has been in Sri Lanka for several days, visiting the camps, flying over the area where the Tigers made their last stand and meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other officials, including Tamil legislators.

"It is important that victory becomes a victory for all Sri Lankans," he told reporters.

Moon is also scheduled to discuss the situation with the president and visit a refugee camp Saturday.