Lanka criticises UN plan to set up rights panel

Reacting sharply to the proposed move,Rajapaksa said,such an intention would certainly be perceived as an interference with the country in the process of holding an island-wide general elections.

The reaction by the presidential office came following a statement by UN that Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon is to set up an experts panel to advise him on the way forward on accountability issues stemming from alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka during the conflict between the government forces and the LTTE last year.

UN Chief spokesperson Martin Nesirky said,Ban spoke on telephone with Rajapaksa on Thursday evening and informed him of his intention to go ahead with the establishment of a Panel of Experts.

The Sri Lankan statement warned that appointment of such a panel would compel Sri Lanka to take necessary and appropriate action in that regard. But did not elaborate.

The President stressed that Sri Lanka looked forward to treatment as per the UN Charter that provides for equal treatment to all Members of the UN,while respecting the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States, it said.

The President also told Ban that he would shortly be addressing a letter to the UN Secretary General,further to this telephonic discussion.

Rajapaksa said it was both unprecedented and unwarranted as 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. Ban was told that Sri Lanka had concluded its armed conflict with the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world,more than nine months ago.

Rajapaksa said that the implementation of such an intention would certainly be perceived as an interference with the current general election campaign being held island wide,the statement said. He said through the April 8 polls,the people of the north and of the east,who were not free to participate in such elections earlier,were being given the opportunity to do so,respecting the highest standards of democracy.