‘Panel has no legal mandate to investigate’

UN commends Govt’s efforts towards MDGs - Ban Ki-moon

by Manjula FERNANDO

United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Ban Ki moon has reiterated that his panel of experts will not have a legal mandate to investigate allegations against Sri Lanka when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday morning at the UN Headquarters on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

He reassured President Rajapaksa that the panel is in no way empowered to investigate allegations against the country but will only play an advisory role that will guide him on the way forward in respect of future relations with Sri Lanka, said President’s media spokesperson Lucian Rajakarunanayake in New York.

The Secretary General commended the speedy work done to resettle the IDPs, and expressed interest in the Government’s policies to rehabilitate child soldiers and other youth who had been adversely affected by the LTTE for nearly three decades.

He lauded the country’s progress and efforts towards early achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. His attention was drawn to the success achieved in primary education, maternal health and reducing the number of infant and child mortalities. During the President’s meeting with the Secretary General which was termed ‘highly productive’ the talks focused on political settlement, reconciliation and accountability.

The President told the Secretary General that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), was fully transparent and set up on the principles of accountability to search for the truth as to what caused this prolonged conflict, and identify ways of preventing such conflicts in the future.

He also briefed the UNSG that the LLRC had shown it was ready to reach out to the people affected by the conflict by holding sittings in the war- torn areas and that it was fully accessible.

“It also demonstrated its readiness to give a hearing to anyone or any organisation that had information of value to the process of reconciliation and restorative justice in Sri Lanka.” In keeping with this policy, the Commission had already submitted an interim communication suggesting administrative measures that should be taken to ease the lives of the people in the affected areas and create conditions for more trust among communities, and better governance.

The discussions between President Rajapaksa and Ban Ki-moon covered a wide range of issues relating to post-conflict development in Sri Lanka, especially the ability of the Government to resettle over 90 percent of the Internally Displaced in the 16 months since the defeat of the LTTE.

The possibility of the UN and its specialised agencies participating in more social and economic development in Sri Lanka was also discussed.

Moon had congratulated President Rajapaksa on the success in the two elections to the Presidency and a new Parliament. He said a strong Parliament had emerged in Sri Lanka, and the process of reconciliation could be best achieved through such political stability. He also said that it was very rare for a national leader to obtain a majority of over two- third in the country’s legislature, which showed the president’s leadership qualities.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe, Attorney General Mohan Peiris, MP Namal Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona were present at the meeting.