UN urges calm in Sri Lanka's pre-election period

A Sri Lankan man walks past a wall painting depicting the country's multi-cultural and multi-religious life in Colombo on Thursday. AFP

Ban asked "all parties in Sri Lanka and their supporters to show restraint and refrain from violence, to adhere to the electoral laws and rules, and to avoid provocative acts throughout the election period and its aftermath".

He said the presidential election will be the first after last year's war with Tamil Tiger rebels, who were defeated, and a peaceful vote is of the "highest importance for long term peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka".