"We need to ensure human rights of the internally displaced people," the high commissioner said after discussions with LTTE political chief SP Tamilselvan in rebel held Kilinochchi.

	SP Tamilselvan greets Antonio Guterres

Antonio Guterres met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday in Colombo.

This is the first visit by a UNHCR High Commissioner to the country, where they have been working with conflict-displaced people since 1987.

The UNHCR says that the purpose of his visit is "to meet displaced people in the north and east of the country and hear first-hand their concerns and needs".

	Mahinda Rajapaksa meets Antonio Guterres

More than 300,000 Sri Lankans have been displaced by three decades of fighting.

A further 500,000 were made homeless by the devastating tsunami of December 2004. Correspondents say many are still in temporary accommodation.

The situation has been further complicated by a surge in violence this year, causing 50,000 people to flee their homes