Colombo: Ignoring protests from Colombo, the United Nations has decided to send an official here to form a panel of experts to advise the world body on human rights situation and "accountability issues" in Sri Lanka.
The panel of experts, as proposed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, would be advising him on "how best to assist Sri Lanka in deal with such requirements”.
"The terms of reference have not been finalised, and I know that there are discussions that have gone on in New York, and there is also a senior United Nations official coming here in late April to pursue this," Resident UN Coordinator Neil Buhne said during a function in Colombo late last week.
"I think the reason that felt important is that almost all counties in the world where a conflict had just ended, needs to achieve reconciliation and lasting peace. South Africa is probably the best example in this," said Buhne, who is also the Humanitarian Coordinator for Sri Lanka.
Earlier this month, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had said that Ban’s intention behind appointing a panel to advice his government was totally uncalled for and unwarranted.
As per official sources, this had been stated during a telephone conversation the two had following a letter written by the UN chief on February 25 in this regard.
Rajapaksa had told Ban that no such action had been taken about other states with continuing armed conflicts on a large scale, involving major humanitarian catastrophes and causing the deaths of large numbers of civilians due to military action.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the panel of experts that the UN secretary general expects to set up following the end of the war, will infringe on the country's sovereignty.
The minister said in the joint statement released by the government and the United Nations during Ban’s visit to the Island Nation last year, there was no agreement to appoint a committee on Sri Lanka and the Government would deal with any issues with in the domestic law, through a local mechanism.
Minister Bogollagama also said Ban’s intentions on the experts' panel amounts to unilateral action and it has not been recommended by the Security Council and the Human Rights Council.
He said the Non-Aligned Movement has also opposed UN's proposed action.
After defeating the LTTE within nine months, the government has restored democracy in the country by conducting Provincial Council and local elections, he said.
Rajapaksa had also drawn Moon's attention to the panel of eminent persons that was already working on the allegations of human rights violations and other charges reported by the US State Department.
"The president stressed that Sri Lanka looked forward to treatment as per the United Nations Charter that provides for equal treatment to all Members of the United Nations, while respecting the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States," an official release said here.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 21, 2010, 15:20