October 14, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 1, 1428

COLOMBO, Oct 13: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, at the end of a five day visit to Sri Lanka has criticised the rights record of both the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Expressing her regret on Saturday at not being able to visit rebel controlled northern territory ‘to convey directly to the LTTE’ her deep concern over their violations of human rights and international law, the UN envoy said she was concerned about the violations of the breakaway LTTE faction based in the east.

“Sri Lanka has many of the elements needed for a strong national protection system”, Arbour said at the conclusion of her visit.

President Mahinda Rajapakse had categorically refused suggestions by the envoy for UN human rights monitors to be deployed in Sri Lanka, government officials said.

“In the context of the armed conflict and the emergency measures taken against terrorism, the weakness of the rule of law and the prevalence of impunity is alarming,” Arbour said.