BRUSSELS, May 20 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Wednesday offered to work with the Sri Lankan government and the people of Sri Lanka to ensure a sustainable political solution to the conflict in the country in an inclusive process based on respect for human rights.

    Welcoming the convening next week of the special session of the UN Human Rights Council to address the human rights situation Sri Lanka, the EU said in a statement issued by the its Czech presidency that it hoped "a meaningful consensual outcome will be reached" through dialogue within the Human Rights Council, and the positive participation of the OHCHR, the international community, the Sri Lankan government and civil society.

    The EU said it would continue to actively work with the Human Rights Council to resolve the "deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, resulting from decades long conflict between the government and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)."

    On May 13, the UN Security Council expressed its "grave concern" over the "worsening" humanitarian crisis in northeastern Sri Lanka and condemned the rebel Tamil guerrillas for its acts of terrorism while urging the government to ensure the security of its people.

    Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday officially declared victory over the LTTE rebels, ending the longest civil war in Asia.

    The LTTE began to fight for an independent Tamil homeland in the north and east of Sri Lanka in the mid-1980s, resulting in the killing of more than 70,000 people.