Monsoon Journal

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to ask a panel of experts to advise the world body on “accountability issues” relating to possible human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, his spokesman said on Mar 5th. In a telephone con- versation with Sri Lankan Presi- dent Mahinda Rajapaksa on Mar 4th evening, Ban said he intend- ed to “go ahead with the estab- lishment of a panel of experts,” Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky said. “He also explained that such a panel would advise him, the secretary-general, on the way forward on accountability issues related to Sri Lanka,” Nesirky said. Commenting on the UN move, Rajapaksa’s office said in a statement on March 6th: “President Mahinda Rajapaksa has pointed out that the intention of the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a panel of experts to advice him on Sri Lanka is totally uncalled for and unwarranted”