Sri Lanka: UN chief seeks political solution

United Nations: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has highlighted the need to find a political solution immediately to the underlying factors of the past conflict in Sri Lanka.

He sought a political solution "without further delay" during his meeting with Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G L Peiris on the margins of the 67th UN General Assembly session, a UN statement said.

The UN Secretary General and Peiris exchanged views on the post-conflict situation in Sri Lanka and cooperation with the United Nations. "The Secretary-General noted the Government's latest efforts to implement the recommendations of its Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) as well as the steady progress and remaining tasks on resettlement efforts in the North," the statement said.

Ban Ki-moon. Reuters.

Ban-Peiris meeting came against the backdrop of a UN resolution against Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council in March. The US-moved, India-backed resolution has urged expeditious implementation of the LLRC recommendations.

Sri Lanka has faced international criticism for going slow on the recommendations of their own committee. It says that some of the recommendations are already being practised while it will take time for the accomplishment of the more far-reaching recommendations.

AP