Govt. rejects EU request to travel to East?

The government has reportedly rejected a request made by a delegation from the European Union three member states to travel to the Eastern Province, as the delegation had refused to meet the newly appointed Eastern Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan.

Informed sources said the delegation from Sweden, Netherlands and Spain was scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka from June 17 to 22 to discuss human rights issues with government leaders and others.

Initially the envoys of the three-member states, who were scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka had made a request to the Foreign Ministry to travel to the eastern province during their visit. Later the foreign ministry had given the green light for the Eastern visit and had inquired whether the Eastern province Chief Minister would be among the officials that the delegation was to meet during their tour.

The delegation representatives had informed that the delegation would not meet the Eastern Chief Minister during the visit.

Considering this situation, the foreign Ministry had decided not to grant permission for the delegation to travel to the eastern province, claiming there was no necessity in doing so as long as the Eastern Chief Minister was not in the list that the delegation would meet.

The delegation would be here to engage in a dialogue with the government authorities and other local and international partners on the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka and discuss possible solutions to improve the human rights and humanitarian situation in the country.

During the visit, the delegation would discuss commitments of the government with regard to the implementation and compliance of international HR conventions within the context of GSP+