COLOMBO, Sept 19: Amidst continued disappearances, abductions and killings, pressure is mounting from human rights activists and other groups for the government to allow UN observers into the country.

The European Union last week joined in to call for the setting up of a United Nations human rights monitoring group in Sri Lanka, resulting in a prompt reaction by the government which immediately began discussions with UNHRC members in Geneva seeking support against the move.

“The proposed EU initiative cannot be regarded as an appropriate way to constructively engage a country, which has a long-standing policy of openness and cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms,” Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said in a statement.

Several local rights organisations are expected to back the EU sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka, NGO sources said.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, two of the global organisations repeatedly critical of alleged violations by the government and the LTTE have also called for mechanisms to protect civilians.

In a statement Amnesty said many internally displaced war affected persons continue to live in fear, sustained in part by the LTTE’s continued involvement in widespread human rights abuses including unlawful killings and abductions.

“Humanitarian access to civilians has been severely curtailed and over 30 humanitarian workers have been killed since 2006. While the government has condemned acts of violence against humanitarian staff, there has been a marked absence of impartial, effective investigations leading to the prosecution of those responsible”, the statement said.

Last month, New York-based Human Rights Watch said more than 1,100 abductions were reported between January 2006 and June 2007, a claim which the government vehemently deny as exaggerated.