Following an allegation that Sri Lankan troops had, on a directive by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, killed surrendering LTTE cadres during the last stage of the Eelam war in May last year, the government will make representations to the international community in a bid to clear any misconception.

A high-level delegation will meet foreign representatives in Geneva within the next few days to brief them on Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism and respond to any contentious issues that may arise during talks.

Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, led a three-member delegation, which included Attorney-General Mohan Pieris and Ministry Consultant on Human Rights Nishan Muthukrishna, early yesterday (Monday) to Geneva in Switzerland for informal discussions with members of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights Professor Rajiva Wijesinghe told The Island yesterday that this sort of briefing was normally held in March in Geneva, but due to the April General Elections, Minister Samarasinghe had decided to leave for Geneva yesterday.

"He will brief 30 to 40 Ambassadors of countries represented in the UN Human Rights Council, including its Human Rights Commissioner Nawaneetham Pillai. There are 47 countries represented in the Human Rights Council," Professor Wijesinghe said.

He said that the previous discussions held since 2007, when Dayan Jayatilleke was Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Geneva, had been"very successful" and the techniques had worked very well.

He said: "They could ask any questions, and Minister Samarasinghe is ready to answer any question arising from General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka’s allegations against Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, made in an interview to The Sunday Leader and even accusations made about malpractices at the January 26 Presidential election.

Professor Wijesinghe told The Island that the Special Rapporteur for Extra Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Philip Alston, had given Sri Lanka notice and sent two letters on the wild allegations made by Gen. Fonseka and Channel 4.

"We are prepared and ready to face any sort of questions posed to us and we are confident that our delegation led by Minister Samarasinghe will do the country proud in Geneva during these discussions" Professor Wijesinghe said.

He told The Island that Minister Samarasinghe would spend about four days in Geneva for "high level segment" discussions, but on this occasion, the Minister would be meeting "social groups" or involved in private briefings, too.

Minister Samarasinghe and the Sri Lanka delegation are scheduled to return to the country on Thursday (January 11).

He may also deliver a speech at a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva scheduled for March 1.