Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International

He was responding to accusations from Defence spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella that the organisation was biased against the government

Paritt in an interview with Sandesaya said that at this time as the situation is deteriorating AI appeals to both sides of the conflict in Sri lanka to protect civilians.

Secretary General

Amnesty International on Saturday calls on the Sri Lanka government to make human rights the priority by allowing the organisation into the country to make an impartial assessment of its and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) human rights record.

“Amnesty International’s role is to monitor and report on human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict. The organisation has repeatedly requested that the government should facilitate this role by allowing us access to the country,” said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International in a statement.

Reject claims

Amnesty International also rejected claims by the Defence spokesman that it had failed “to utter a single word’ against recent bomb attacks.

In the last month alone the organisation made several statements condemning the targeting of civilians including one on 4th February 2008 entitled: Sri Lanka: Right to life of civilians disregarded as conflict intensifies.

“The situation in Sri Lanka has deteriorated and both the government and the LTTE stand accused of serious human rights abuses. All parties should immediately stop targeting civilians and uphold their commitments to international human rights law,” she said.