Sri Lanka objects to publication of UN report, says it will damage reconciliation process

The Sri Lankan government today objected to the publication and acting on the recommendations made in the report submitted by the Panel of Experts appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to probe accountability issues during the later stages of the three-decades long armed conflict.

Addressing a press briefing this this afternoon at the Ministry OF External Affairs the Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Prof. G.L. Peiris said the report is an obstacle to the reconciliation process in the island nation.

"This report is an obstacle and is harmful to the process of reconciliation and increasing the unity among all communities in the island which has become the need of the era, in terms of Sri Lanka, after being suffered by a three decade war," the Minister pointed out.

The Minister said this action compromises the core values, the UN system is based on and urged the UN Chief to consider whether the contents of the report is consistent with the objectives of the committee which was supposedly an advisory committee.

Prof. Peiris asked the UN chief to consider whether the report contributes to the task of reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and called on the UN to take any measures that would make the reconciliation process even more difficult.

The government said the Sri Lankan Mission in New York has conveyed to UN that publishing of this report and implementing its recommendations will cause an irreparable damage to the sovereignty and the solidarity of Sri Lanka.

Political observers in the country express alarm that recommendations of the reports and the actions will divide the communities even further and set back the government's efforts bring a political solution to the ethnic issue.

The Minister questioned whether it is possible and justifiable to submit recommendations, even before Sri Lanka's own investigative commission, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), submits its findings, due on May 15th.

The Minister pointed out that international community has welcomed the establishment of the LLRC as it is in the process of rebuilding peace and understanding among all communities in the island.