UN human rights chief begins key visit to Sri Lanka

 The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday on a weeklong visit during which she will attempt to draw her own conclusions on the post war situation in the country.Pillay, who has been highly critical of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, will visit the north of the country which has been battered by 30 years of war between Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sri Lankan military.The rebels were defeated just over four years ago but human rights groups accused the military of committing human rights abuses in an attempt to defeat the rebels.Chief of Defence Staff General Jagath Jayasuriya said the government will be giving her three separate briefings, including one by the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga on the action plan on implementing the recommendations of a reconciliation committee and one by the Ministry of Defence.Pillay is also scheduled to call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and meet government ministers and officials during her visit. She will also hold talks with senior judicial figures, members of the National Human Rights Commission and representatives of civil society.However, some Sinhalese groups have said they will stage protests outside the UN office in Colombo on Monday against Pillay 's visit to Sri Lanka.Pillay's impression of Sri Lanka at the end of her visit will be all the more crucial as the UN Human Rights Council will meet in Geneva next month and she is expected to make a statement on Sri Lanka.Her office said that the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to present an oral update to the Council on the implementation of that resolution with input from relevant special procedures mandate holders.