Government will not listen to UN orders – Minister

Tamil Guardian 29 August 2013

The Minister for Irrigation and Water Management Nimal Sripala de Silva has said that the UN High Commisisoner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, could not give orders to Sri Lanka, and even if she did, the government would not comply.

Talking to reporters at the office of Mahinda Rajapakse’s SLFP, the minister said Navi Pillay was able to visit any place on the island as the country had nothing to hide.

“She now has the opportunity to see for herself the ground situation and reach a conclusion accordingly…Ms Pillay could release a good or bad report on Sri Lanka after her visit,” de Silva said.

Responding to UNP claims that President Rajapakse scheduled his visit to Belarus in order to avoid the High Commissioner, de Silva said there was no need to avoid her as the invitation was extended by the government and that a meeting with the president has been scheduled at Temple Trees on Friday.

Country’s doors open to Pillay as it has  nothing to h ide – Govt.

By Dasun Edirisinghe-August 28, 2013

The government had allowed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to visit anywhere in the country and gain first hand knowledge of the real situation, regarding the allegations leveled by enemies of Sri Lanka as it had nothing to hide, Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resource Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

Addressing the weekly UPFA media briefing, at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party head office in Colombo, Minister de Silva said that Pillay was also scheduled to meet Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, TNA parliamentarians, civil organisations, etc.

"Ms Pillay could release a good or bad report on Sri Lanka after her visit," de Silva said.

Answering a question, the minister said that Pillay could not give orders to Sri Lanka and even if she gave an order the government would not obey it.

Responding to the UNP’s claim that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had left for Belarus to avoid Pillay, Minister e Silva said that the government had invited her to visit Sri Lanka and there was no need to avoid her.

The senior Vice President of the SLFP said that President Rajapaksa had given her an appointment at Temple Trees on Friday and the UNP’s claim was a joke.