UN has no authority over Sri Lankan diplomat’s visit to Lebanon

New York: The United Nations said Thursday that it has no authority to stop Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Major General Shavendra Silva visiting Lebanon as a part of delegation to observe UN peace keeping forces.

Responding to a question regarding Major General Silva’s visit to Lebanon, Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General has clarified that the Sri Lankan Envoy was part of the Military-Police Advisers Community (MPAC) delegation visiting the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from 28 November to 4 December 2012.

The Spokesperson has said that the official MPAC program included briefings and visits to United Nations positions. The MPAC is a group comprising permanent missions’ military attachés and police advisers, and the United Nations had no authority over the group of visitors that included Gen. Silva. Silva’s visit to observe peace keeping troops has been criticised by the pro-Diaspora Tamil media outlets.