UN to review its own actions during Sri Lanka's war

As recommended by the Panel of Experts appointed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations will review its own actions during the last phase of Sri Lanka's war against the Tamil Tiger terrorists.

The UN Secretary-General ban Ki-moon in a statement said Tuesday that he asked the Thoraya Obaid, former Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to conduct the review.

The review is to commence soon, the statement said.

The Expert panel report released in April 2011, has recommended the Secretary-General to conduct a comprehensive review of the UN's actions during the troubled period.

The Secretary-General yesterday sent the report of his Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka to the President of the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The statement said the Sri Lankan Government has been informed of the Secretary-General's decision to share the report with the Council and the High Commissioner.

"While the Secretary-General had given time to the Government of Sri Lanka to respond to the report, the Government has declined to do so, and instead has produced its own reports on the situation in the north of Sri Lanka, which are being forwarded along with the Panel of Experts report," it said.

However, the head of the Sri Lankan delegation to the currently ongoing 18th UNHRC sessions in Geneva, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said the delegation learnt the UN Chief's decision to share the report through a third party at a luncheon held on September 9th.