Ranil meets Ban Ki-moon

Thursday, 7 July 2011 00:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition and United National Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe Tuesday met United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and held discussions.

The meeting took place Tuesday afternoon at the UN headquarters in New York. The Opposition Leader has appraised the UNSG on the developments in Sri Lanka and discussed Sri Lanka’s response to the report of the Panel of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General.

Wickremesinghe told ColomboPage over the phone before he left New York Tuesday night that from the discussions he had with Ban he understood the UNSG will pursue the matter until Sri Lanka conducts a credible investigation on the allegations of human right violations cited in the report.

“The problem will not simply go away until Sri Lanka conducts an acceptable (to UN) investigation,” Wickremesinghe said. The Opposition Leader said the major issues discussed during the meeting included restitution of democracy in the country, upholding human rights and freedom of expression. Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to United States, Devinda Subasinghe who accompanied the Opposition Leader during his visit to New York said it is an opportune time for Sri Lanka to start a high-level dialogue with the United Nations and the United States which is urging the Sri Lankan government to investigate the allegations.