Sri Lanka has always had the highest regard for the UN Secretary-General and acknowledges the difficult task that he is performing in the service of the organisation, said Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Palitha Kohona in an interview with the Inter Press News Agency.

We are confident that he will act in a manner that will not inflame the political sensitivities in the country, especially in the lead-up to a general election (in Sri Lanka in early April), he added.

Speaking with regard to the relationship between the United Nations and Sri Lanka he said, "I do not believe that the relationship with the U.N. is deteriorating. There are continuing discussions with the organisation which is normal… Sri Lanka will continue to play its rightful role," Kohona further stated.

Following are the excerpts from the interview:

There are unconfirmed rumours that the secretary-general is being pressured by some Western nations to take an unyielding stand against Sri Lanka. Any truth to this rumour?

I don't know. However, it would be strange indeed if any country were to exert pressure on the secretary-general to penalise a small developing country which had almost single-handedly crushed a ruthless terrorist organisation, and which success enjoys the widest support within the country, as clearly demonstrated by the unprecedented success of the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a series of elections, when better documented violations of international humanitarian standards are occurring elsewhere, even as we speak.

Since the relationship between the United Nations and Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate, will the government permit a proposed visit to Colombo by U.N. Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe in the near future? If not, why?

I do not believe that the relationship with the U.N. is deteriorating. There are continuing discussions with the organisation which is normal. This is not the first time that we have been engaged in this complex institution - and as a sovereign and equal member of the organisation, Sri Lanka will continue to play its rightful role. We understand that USG Pascoe will visit Sri Lanka in due course following the invitation issued by the president.

The Western powers failed to get Sri Lanka on the Security Council agenda primarily due to opposition by China. But Beijing has caved in under Western pressure to approve three Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions on Iran, a country which has a much stronger political, economic and military relationship with China than Sri Lanka. Do you anticipate a situation when China will eventually relent to Western pressure on Sri Lanka - if not now, at least later?

In the light of what has been said above, it is unlikely that this matter would reach such a pass.

The NAM letter implicitly accuses the secretary-general of playing politics when it says that the Non-Aligned countries "are of the conviction" that the proposal to appoint a panel of experts on the eve of parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka "could do more harm than good to the country's ongoing and relentless efforts aimed at reinforcing reconciliation and national unity." Is he?

Sri Lanka has always had the highest regard for the secretary-general and acknowledges the difficult task that he is performing in the service of the organisation. We are confident that he will act in a manner that will not inflame the political sensitivities in the country, especially in the lead-up to a general election (in Sri Lanka in early April).

How negative is the reaction in Sri Lanka to the U.N. proposal to appoint a panel? And if permitted, could the secretary-general's decision be a precedent for similar action elsewhere?

The reaction within Sri Lanka to comments made by the secretary-general and his spokesman, as underlined in a statement issued by the foreign ministry, is, unfortunately, extremely negative. We also have a recently re-elected president who is enjoying unprecedented approval ratings.

All parties need to reflect on the political consequences of the course of action currently being discussed and remind ourselves of the importance of permitting Sri Lanka the space to address its internal issues without the irritant of external interference which could also be precedent-setting in a global sense. I note that an accountability mechanism has already been outlined by the Attorney General (of Sri Lanka) before the Human Rights Council.