Sri Lanka rejects UN official's criticism, accuse of violating mandate

, September 2: The Sri Lankan government on Sunday accused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay of violating her mandate through some comments that she made to the media during her week-long visit to the island nation.

Pillay's observation that Sri Lanka "is showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction" is a political statement on her part, which clearly transgresses her mandate and the basic norms which should be observed by a discerning international civil servant, reported Xinhua citing Sri Lanka's information department.

"The judgment on the leadership of the country is better left for the people of Sri Lanka to decide, than being caricatured by external entities influenced by vested interests," it added.

Pillay was on a week-long visit to Sri Lanka on an invitation extended by the government. Post the comment, the Sri Lankan government took steps to address international criticism.

Pillay criticised the regime and said that there was lack of progress investigating war crime allegations and there is a drift towards a authoritarian style of rule.

IANS