Ban Ki-moon to focus on government’s progress

By Manjula Fernando

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to focus on the progress of Sri Lanka’s commitments made before the UN Human Rights Council in September last year, during his two-day visit to the country this week.

This will be his second visit to Sri Lanka. The UN Chief visited the North a week after the LTTE was defeated in May, 2009. He travelled to the liberated areas, speaking to the people held hostage by the LTTE.

Accompanied by Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, he will arrive in Colombo from Myanmar on August 31 late afternoon and will depart for Beijing to attend the G20 Summit on Friday, the UN Colombo office announced.

The UN Chief is expected to praise Sri Lanka’s transition and sea change after May 2009, an authoritative diplomatic source said. “His visit will have a positive effect on Sri Lanka in Geneva,” he added.

Moon will be stepping down from his global role in December this year, after serving two consecutive terms as the Secretary General.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera extended an invitation to the Secretary General to visit Sri Lanka, in February 2015. This was reiterated by President Maithripala Sirisena in September the same year when he attended his first UN General Assembly.

The UN office said the UNSG is scheduled to travel to Galle on Thursday to take part in a special event titled ‘Reconciliation and Coexistence: Role of Youth’. He will meet Governor Reginald Cooray, Opposition Leader R.Sampanthan and TNA members in Jaffna on Friday. He is also expected to pay a visit to a resettlement site while in the North.

His discussions with the President, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister will revolve round accountability issues, the reconciliation process, truth seeking mechanism, and the Missing Persons Office that is to be set up shortly.

The international media reported that Moon, 72, a former South Korean Foreign Minister will run for presidency in South Korea next year.

The election process to nominate the 9th Secretary General will be held in October.