A top United Nations political official is heading tonight to Sri Lanka as part of the world body’s continuing efforts to assist authorities in the South Asian island nation tackle key challenges in the wake of last year’s end to the long-running civil war.B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, is scheduled to hold talks with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, other senior Government officials, opposition and minority party representatives, Tamil leaders, media representatives and civil society groups during the two-day visit.The visit will focus on political reconciliation, human rights and the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), in line with a joint statement made by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Rajapaksa when the UN chief visited Sri Lanka in May last year.The UN is also setting up a panel of experts as part of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law following last year’s end to the civil war between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).Meanwhile, two senior foreign policy advisors to President Obama are in the island nation for a five day visit from June 14-18 , met the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today . According to sources, the meeting was cordial and both sides discussed topics of mutual interest.Samantha Power, Special Assistant to the President on Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights and David Pressman, National Security Council Director for War Crimes and Atrocities, are also scheduled to meet with senior government officials and members of civil society in Colombo, Jaffna, and Batticaloa.The visit aims to continue last month’s productive dialogue between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, in which both leaders discussed Sri Lanka’s path through economic renewal, accountability, and reconciliation to greater peace, prosperity, and a stronger partnership with the United States.