Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said Human Rights High Commissioner is scheduled to undertake a visit to Sri Lanka from February 6 - 9.
Al Hussein's visit comes in the wake of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's remarks that foreign judges will not be invited to play a role in the domestic probe into the alleged atrocities committed during war with the LTTE despite the assurance given by the government to abide by the consensual resolution last October.
However, the Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said top UN official's visit Lanka has nothing to do with the review of the implementation of the Geneva resolution. He said that the government expects to discuss government's political victories with him.
Responding to queries by The Hindu, Mahishini Colonne, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the visit was in response to an invitation extended by the government in February 2015, many months before the adoption of the resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in October.
She recalled that at the time of the presidential election in January 2015, there was a commitment given (by Maithripala Sirisena) to people of Sri Lanka on good governance and the protection of human rights. "As part of the governments willingness to work together with international community, the invitation was extended to him," she explained.
During his four-day visit, the High Commissioner will hold talks with leaders from the government and the opposition, and would also meet civil society members.