Wednesday Jul 28, 2010
The Sri Lankan government is to oppose the re-election of Ban Ki Moon as the UN Secretary General and will also seek the support of several other countries for this move, a senior government minister told Daily Mirror online on the condition of anonymity.

The cabinet minister said that Sri Lanka will seek the support of countries such as India, Russia, Brazil, China and other developing countries and will launch campaigns in these countries soon, to oppose the re-appointment of Ban Ki Moon to the post of UN Secretary General.

“Sri Lanka will not vote him in after his latest decision to appoint his expert panel. Sri Lanka will also discourage other countries in the region from voting for him,” the cabinet minister said.

“The government will begin the campaigns soon after discussions with the respective governments,” the minister added.

The term of Ban Ki Moon as the UN Secretary General will expire on December 31, 2011 and he is eligible for re-appointment into a second term.

Ban Ki Moon has been in troubled waters with the Sri Lankan government especially after his decision to appoint an expert panel to advise him on accountability issues relating to Sri Lanka.

Despite repeated calls from the Sri Lankan government stating that such a panel was ‘unwarranted’ and ‘uncalled’ for Ban Ki Moon has maintained that his panel will remain and will submit a report to him within a period of four months.

Source: daily mirror
Author: Jamila Najmuddin