Urged by the civil society, the United Nations Human Rights Council will hold a Special Session on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka on 25 May, in Geneva Switzerland. "It is hoped that the holding of this special session will contribute towards the cause of peace", said the Human Rights Council President Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi on 18 May 2009.

Urged by the civil society, the United Nations Human Rights Council will hold a Special Session on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka on 25 May, in Geneva Switzerland. "It is hoped that the holding of this special session will contribute towards the cause of peace", said the Human Rights Council President Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi on 18 May 2009.

The UN Under-Secretary-General John Holmes said that the arrival of many internally displace people from the conflict zone will cause "major humanitarian challenges" in providing shelter, necessities and security in the country. "The conditions in these camps are certainly not ideal. They're not up to international standards yet but everybody is working very hard to try to make sure that they are". He also said that the UN does not have accurate figures and information on the death toll of Sri Lanka.

In the meantime, the Sri Lankan security forces were on high alert on 20 May, as the country celebrated the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by announcing a public holiday.

Addressing the citizens who left the country, especially the Tamil, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said , "There are no minority communities in this country. There are only two communities, one that loves this country and another that does not", urging them to come back to rebuild the country.

Media aired pictures of what seems to be the dead body of Vellupillai Prabhakaran, the leader and founder of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. His eyes are open, face bloated, with top of his head blown off.

The spokesperson of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Selvarajah Pathmanathan denied the death of LTTE leader and founder. He accused the government for killings the political wings leaders B. Nadesan and S. Puleedevan.

The three doctors labeled as propagandists of the LTTE by the government are still detained, now at the Terrorist Invesgitation Division (TID) in Colombo. They had worked for people under the conflict and were detained by the Sri Lankan Army on 16 May. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and Reporters Without Borders have appealed further for their safe release.