Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Palita Kohona, has boycotted a Commonwealth Day Reception hosted by the UK mission, after his controversial deputy, Major General Shavendra Silva, was refused an invitation, according to the Sunday Times.
The latest incident points to further isolation of Silva, who was recently expelled from a UN Peacekeeping Advisory Panel after his appointment was deemed “not appropriate”. Sri Lanka responded angrily to the humiliation, liking it to a "public lynching without trial".
Silva is at the focus of controversy at the UN due to his alleged involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity during the closing stages of the war.
See our earlier posts:
Sri Lanka outraged at Silva humiliation (24 Feb 2012)
Member states & Ban Ki Moon should endorse barring of Silva - HRW (23 Feb 2012)
Silva 'not appropriate' for UN body (23 Feb 2012)
Pressure piles on Ban over Silva appointment (19 Feb 2012)
Navi Pillay raises concerns over General Silva at UN (14 Feb 2012)
Human rights groups condemn Shavendra Silva's appointment to UN (28 Jan 2012)
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