Two UN Special Rapporteurs due here

UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mónica Pinto and Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Méndez, will undertake a joint visit to Sri Lanka from April 29 to May 7, at the invitation of the Government.

“While the previous UN Special Rapporteur on torture visited Sri Lanka in 2010, this will be the first visit to Sri Lanka by a Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

During their visit, the two Special Rapporteurs will meet with relevant ministers, government officials, members of the judiciary, the Attorney-General, lawyers, civil society members, the National Human Rights Commission and victims and their families.

In addition to visiting Colombo, they will visit the Northern, North Central, Eastern, Central and Southern Provinces and also places of detention.