Ban, Pillai discuss Lanka

UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon is in touch with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillai on the establishment of a Panel of Experts to advise him on accountability issues as they might apply to Sri Lanka, a UN spokesman said.

The Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General has not as yet appointed a Panel of Experts which would be asked to advise him on accountability issues on Sri Lanka as he is still to consider such a panel's terms of references.

The spokesman said that Ban ki-moon is in contact with his advisers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillai on the issue adding that so far names for the panel have also not been suggested.

“It is unlikely that such a panel will be actually established very soon,” the UN spokesperson further added. 

When contacted, Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasingha told Daily Mirror online that the UN had not given any confirmation on whether it would actually go ahead in the appointment of an expert panel and therefore the government would wait and watch. "I cannot comment on who the UN Chief is holding discussions with but the government is also waiting to see what happens," Minister Samarasingha said. 

A top UN source said over the weekend that due to the vehement protests lodged against the UN on the establishment of the panel, Mr. Ban Ki Moon was actually reconsidering his decision.