U.N. panel enter Sri Lanka to testify before local commission only

Government Spokesman

 Sri Lanka said on Thursday it would allow the U.N. panel on Sri Lanka appointed by its SG visit the country only to be testified before a similar panel  appointed by the government of Sri Lanka.

Government spokesman Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that there is no change in the Government’s stance with regard to this panel; we will not allow them to an independent probe into the internal affairs of a sovereign nation

“The government will issue them visa if the panel requests to be enter
the country and testify before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission and not to carry out any investigation” said the minister
Rambukwella

"This is the government stance and there is no change in that. The
U.N. has so far not requested visa in this regard." Minister told this
edition
The minister said that they can come for an expressed purpose of
testifying before the local commission and would not be allowed to
conduct any investigation on their own

At the time of this Panel was appointed by the UN Secretary General to
advise him on the Sri Lanka’s accountability issues not only the Sri
Lankan Government rejected its move but also many friendly countries
too criticised this move by UN.
Japanese envoy on Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi had said that “UN should
not interefe in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka but only offer
suggestion and ideas in dealing with the government”

Even countries like China and Russia had expressed concerns about the UN move.

Sri Lanka had to vigorously fight against Western pressure to allow an
international investigation into allegations that war crimes were
committed during the final months of a 25-year civil war with the
Tamil Tiger separatists.