A protest was staged opposite the UN office in Colombo this morning against UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon’s decision to appoint a panel of experts to advice him on Sri Lanka. The protest was organised by Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a constituent of the ruling combine. A large number of monks associated with the party also participated in the protest. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week had appointed a panel of experts to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka that ended last year. <br/>Sri Lankan government has strongly opposed the appointment of the Expert Panel by the UN Secretary General and has dubbed the move as ‘unwarranted and an unnecessary interference with a sovereign nation’.<br/><br/>The Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Mr G L Peires has been firm in stating that the government shall not allow the panel of experts to visit Sri Lanka. He said solutions to these problems must have a ‘local complexion’ and that the local Commission appointed for this purpose has already started its work.<br/>