The government continued to resist calls for the setting up of a UN backed human rights monitoring mission to the country in Geneva on the side lines of the sixth session of the UN Human Rights Council. Government representatives reiterated that its engagement with the UN negated any calls for rights monitors. Calls for monitors were repeated at an event titled 'Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka' organised by Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists held at Palais des Nations in Geneva on Monday, September 17.

The Sri Lankan Permanent Mission in Geneva said that Director - Legal, Peace Secretariat, Shirani Goonatilleke told the meeting that there was no humanitarian crisis in the country.

"Sri Lanka has been maintaining a policy of open and constructive engagement with all UN human rights mechanisms and working closely on the ground with UN and other agencies from both civil society and the international community in implementing these initiatives, and this totally negates the adverse unsubstantiated allegations and propaganda of some INGOs and NGOs at these sessions, that lead to their conclusion that 'Sri Lanka is facing a human rights crisis that calls for UN monitoring,'" Goonatilleke who spoke from the floor said at the event, the mission said.

The event was chaired by Executive Director, International Council on Human Rights Policy, Robert Archer and included five panelists - President, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), Nimalka Fernando, Researcher for the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, Charu Lata Hogg, Researcher, South Asia Team of Amnesty International, Yolanda Foster, Programme Officer, International Commission of Jurists, Susan Appleyard and Executive Director, INFORM, Sunila Abeysekera.

"We desperately need some outside mechanism that has the agreement of all parties," Abeysekera was quoted by Reuters as saying at the event.

The government has tried to counter calls for setting up of a monitoring mission since the sessions commenced last week. The European Union in fact told the sessions there was a need for monitors in Sri Lanka as the situation has not improved. However Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative in Geneva, Dayan Jayatilleke told the sessions that the government would not bow to pressure tactics.

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