UN high Commissioner for Human Rights

Pillay presented her 2009 report to the annual session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday.

Opportunity for peace marred

“In Sri Lanka, the opportunity for peace and reconciliation continues to be marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of government” the High Commissioner said.

"I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard," she said in a speech presenting her annual report.

“In Sri Lanka, the opportunity for peace and reconciliation continues to be marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of government” - Navi Pillai

Earlier this month, addressing a gathering in Ireland, Navi Pillai expressed the need for an independent investigation of war crimes committed by both sides during the last stages of the war.

Sri Lanka government maintains that there were no war crimes committed.

The government says it will not allow any international investigations.
In an earlier interview with the BBC, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said he would not allow any such investigation as “there is no reason.”