Govt. to consult P’ment on Pillay’s request

10 June 2014 11:53 pm

The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday decided to ascertain the views of Parliament with regard to the letter sent by UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay on the appointment of an investigative team on Sri Lanka and her request seeking access for the team to visit the country.

The matter had been discussed at length at a meeting of the SLFP Central Committee Chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. At the outset of the meeting External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris had briefed the Central Committee members on the contents of Ms. Pillay’s letter to him.

The letter states that she had put together an investigative team headed by Sandra Beidas and that Ms. Pillai is involved in an effort to put together other senior figures at an international level to assist and advise the investigative team.

Ms. Pillay had said that the investigative team would like to visit Sri Lanka as well as other countries for its work. She had asked the Government to allow access for the team to visit the country.

The SLFP Central Committee after considering the national importance of the matter had decided to seek the views of Parliament regarding it. Therefore it had been decided to consult the Government’s other coalition partners and for House Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva to request Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa for a debate on the matter. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)