The United Nations says the forming of a commission by President Mahinda Rajapakse to investigate alleged incidents which took place during the war will not substitute the need for a panel of experts to brief the UN Chief on accountability issues relating to Sri Lanka.
A UN official from the UN Headquarters in New York, Chois Soung told Daily Mirror online that UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon was going ahead with the appointment of his expert panel and would send his Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe to the island as soon as the Sri Lankan government issued a green light.
She also said that President Rajapakse’s commission and the UN Chief’s expert panel were two different concepts due to which Ban Ki Moon would not reconsider appointing his panel.
“President Rajapakse can appoint whatever he wants. His commission has nothing to do with Mr. Ban Ki Moon’s panel. It is good that President Rajapakse has appointed a commission as he has to keep his promise which he gave to the international community,” Soung said.
When questioned about the panel, Soung said that the appointment of the panel was ‘underway’ and could not reveal further information as it was not open to the public.
Meanwhile it is learnt that the government has further delayed a trip by UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe to Sri Lanka after the UN sought permission to facilitate a visit by Pascoe in May to discuss the developments in the country.
Daily Mirror online learns that the Sri Lankan government had not replied in favour due to which fresh dates were proposed by the UN in June. However the government is yet to reply to the fresh dates citing that both parties (UN and government) had to discuss a convenient date. (Daily Mirror online)
By Jamila Najmuddin
