GL slams access given to UN group

Former Foreign Minister, Professor G L Peiris yesterday raised concerns over the decision taken by the Government to grant access to a UN group to visit the Navy camp in Trincomalee.

Peiris said that no country will allow a foreign group to have access to its Navy camp yet the current Sri Lankan Government allowed the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to inspect the Trincomalee Navy camp.

The Former Foreign Minister accused the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of making false claims after visiting the camp.

He says as a result of the claims the Government is now preparing to arrest 20 intelligence officers of the Navy under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances last week raised concerns over secret underground detention cells at the Trincomalee navy camp believed to have been used to detain people now reported missing.

The UN group visited the camp and inspected the cells and at least one cell is said to have had writings on the walls with numbers believed to be an indication that a detainee was in the cell in July 2010. (Colombo Gazette)