President is to meet AI chief and Red Cross officials in Geneva

The president's visit comes amidst heavy criticism by humanitarian organisations and donor countries on Sri Lanka governments human rights record.

President's spokesman Chandrapala Liyanage told the BBC Sinhala service that the president is scheduled to meet UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour, Secretary General of the Amnesty International Irene Khan and Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Jaques Forster.

UK appeal

The president has ordered an inquiry into the killing of two Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteers a week ago whom eye witness said were abducted by "men claiming to be from the police".

The abductions have to cease, the human rights abuses have got to cease, and the kind of tactics we use to clear Tamils out of Colombo suburbs should never happen again British minister Kim Howells

British State minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Dr. Kim Howells who met the president on Tuesday called to end "human rights abuses".

"The abductions have to cease, the human rights abuses have got to cease, and the kind of tactics we use to clear Tamils out of Colombo suburbs should never happen again," he told the BBC.

Transporting hundreds of Tamils from Colombo last week to the North and East met with stiff opposition from local and international organisations while the Supreme Court ordered to halt the evictions.

PM's statement 'demoralising'

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka who expressed regret for the mass transportation of Tamils, came under criticism by a cabinet colleague.

	Fernadopullai said PM's statement demoralised the armed forces

Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle told Journalists in Colombo on Wednesday that the statement by the PM, "demoralises the armed forces".

He said that the decision to evict Tamils from Colombo, "who were a security threat" was taken by the Security Advisory Committee (SAC) headed by the president.

Opposition 'did not object'

He added that the United National Party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna representatives who were at the SAC did not raise any objections at the meeting.

Both parties expressed their opposition in public once the transportation happened.

The President is accompanied to Geneva by Ministers Athauda Seneviratne, Douglas Devananda, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Keheliya Rambukwella, Attorney General C.R. De Silva, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunaga, and Foreign Secretay Dr. Palitha Kohona said the permanent mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva.