UN chief Ban Ki-moon has asked Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to advance the dialogue on a political settlement for long-lasting peace in the country and expressed hope that he would implement the recommendations of the UNHRC's recently released report.

Ban met the Sri Lankan President here yesterday on the sidelines of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and discussed recent political developments in the country, according to a readout of the meeting provided by Ban’s spokesperson.

The Secretary General "encouraged the President to advance the dialogue on a political settlement and seize this opportunity to lay the foundation for long-lasting peace and stability."

Ban also welcomed the High Commissioner for Human Rights' recently released report on Sri Lanka and said that he was pleased with the government's positive and constructive engagement with the UN on the report.

Ban "hoped that the President would implement its recommendations," the statement said.

The report released earlier this month by the United Nations human rights office has identified patterns of grave violations in Sri Lanka between 2002 and 2011, and recommended the establishment of a hybrid special court to ensure that justice is served.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein had said that the Council’s investigation has "laid bare" the horrific level of violations and abuses that occurred in Sri Lanka, including indiscriminate shelling, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, harrowing accounts of torture and sexual violence, recruitment of children and other grave crimes.

The report also indicates that war crimes and crimes against humanity were most likely committed by both sides to the country’s conflict – the Government of Sri Lanka and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Reiterating his strong commitment to Sri Lanka, Ban said he looked forward to working closely with the President, the Government and domestic stakeholders during this "critical time."

The Secretary-General also encouraged the President to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals into the national development agenda.

(Outlook)