The Sri Lankan government has reportedly ignored a request made by the UN Human Rights Office in August 2009 seeking permission for UN Special Representative on Freedom of Expression, Frank La Rue to visit the country.
The visit is aimed at inquiring into the current situation of media freedom in the country and Frank La Rue expects to meet with members of the government as well as from other parties during this fact finding mission.
The Sri Lankan government had in writing promised to invite the UN Special Representative on Freedom of Expression to the country when it contested for a position in the UN Human Rights Council in 2006.
However, the government has not honored the pledge.
The Mahinda Rajapaksa administration has so far not responded positively to many requests made by Special UN Representatives looking into torture, abductions and the rights of the minority communities to visit the country.
Several human rights activists told Lanka News Web that the move by the Mahinda Rajapaksa government to prevent UN Special Representatives from visiting the country is to avoid the bad human rights record of the government from being made publicized to the world.
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