Ban sets up advisory panel on human rights in Sri Lanka

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon is setting up an expert panel that will advise him (Ban) "on the way forward on accountability issues" stemming from alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka during the fighting between the government forces and the LTTE last year.

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon is setting up an expert panel that will advise him (Ban) "on the way forward on accountability issues" stemming from alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka during the fighting between the government forces and the LTTE last year.

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The Secretary-General spoke by telephone with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday evening, according to his spokesperson Martin Nesirky. "The Secretary-General informed the President of his intention to go ahead with the establishment of a Panel of Experts," Nesirky told journalists.

"He also explained that such a panel would advise him (Ban) on the way forward on accountability issues related to Sri Lanka," he stressed.

The conversation took place after High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern at the continuing human rights violations in Sri Lanka and asked its government to investigate all human rights violations that occurred during the conflict.

"The opportunity for peace and reconciliation continues to be marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of the Government," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.