A top UN official began a key visit to Sri Lanka today to take stock of the political reconciliation process and human rights situation in the country.
The two-day visit of B Lynn Pascoe, the under- secretary-general for political affairs, is focused on issues covered in the joint statement issued by United Nations secretary-general Ban Kid-moon and president Mahinda Rajapaksa in May 2009, including political reconciliation, the return and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and human rights.
For the past few months, Ban has been in the process of finding experts for an advisory panel that will counsel him on accountability issues that arise with regards to alleged human rights abuses that took place in the months leading to the government defeating the LTTE in May 2009.
Pascoe held meetings with president Rajapaksa, minister of external affairs GL Peiris, and attorney general Mohan Peiris. He is scheduled to meet with Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the opposition.
The top UN official visited areas around Mullaitivu town in the north, close to where the last battles in the ethnic conflict were waged in May 2009.
People who fled their homes during the armed conflict are now being resettled there with assistance from the government, the UN agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Pascoe was also briefed on progress as well as difficulties in the resettlement process in the district, home today to a resettled population of more than 40,000, a UN release said.
At a health clinic in the village of Vattapallai, Pascoe met with a group of mothers with young children who had been resettled to the area three months ago.
"The United Nations is doing everything it can to help you get back to a normal life now that this tragic war is over,” he assured the women.
Pascoe also visited a cooperative store where food rations supplied through the United Nations are distributed to the resettled populations in northern Sri Lanka.
Pascoe is also set to meet with senior government officials, representatives of opposition and minority parties, including Tamil and Muslim leaders, civil society, media and members of the diplomatic corps.
