Lanka's Gotabhaya Rajapaksa criticises visit of Navi Pillay

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today claimed that UN human rights chief Navi Pillay's visit to Sri Lanka was influenced by propaganda from elements of the LTTE that was defeated in a civil war in 2009.
Rajapaksa, the powerful brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said the "re-emergence of terrorism is still a threat" despite the end of the country's nearly three-decade ethnic war.
Elements of the Tamil Tigers and their supporters are working to increase international pressure on Sri Lanka, he claimed.
"Their intention is the division of Sri Lanka and the establishment of a separate state for Tamil Eelam," he said while addressing a seminar titled 'Post Conflict Sri Lanka Challenges and Regional Stability' here.

Rajapaksa said the country's internal matters have featured "on the agenda of many international NGOs and even at the UNHRC sessions." The visit by Pillay "is another instance of this attention," he said.
His comments came after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay after her week long visit slammed Sri Lanka as a state which was increasingly heading towards authoritarianism.

She said despite the end to the armed conflict four years ago the democracy has been undermined and the rule of law eroded.
A South African national of Indian Tamil origin, Pillay met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and travelled to former war zones in the northern and eastern provinces during her visit.

Pillay, who was on a fact finding mission to Sri Lanka, will submit her findings to the UNHRC later this month.