* Fifteen year action plan for promotion of human rights in Sri Lanka
Wed, Mar 17, 2010, 06:40 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 17, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe says that a 15-year action plan has been prepared for promotion of human rights in Sri Lanka. The plan, which was presented to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navanetham Pillay last month, has been approved by the cabinet.

Speaking to the national radio the Minister pointed out that no incident had taken place in Sri Lanka that could be subjected to discussions by any international group. He assured that no offence has been committed by the war heroes.

The Minister said that the UN works with a misunderstanding. The move by the UN to appoint a panel of experts on Sri Lanka would not proceed due to the opposition of 124 countries of the Non-Alignment Movement.

However, the United Nation's Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday said that he is going ahead with his proposal for a panel of experts on Sri Lanka as part of an accountability process following the end of the civil war in island nation despite vehement objections from Colombo and defended it on the ground that the panel would not infringe on the country's sovereignty.

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon told reporters at his routine monthly news conference Tuesday that the establishment of the panel is in line with a joint statement he issued with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to the country last May.