Sri Lanka has accused the UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navaneetham Pillay of overreaching her mandate and transgressing basic norms which should be observed by a discerning international civil servant, by bringing into question the constitutional governance of a sovereign state.

Criticizing the statement delivered by Navaneetham Pillay at a press briefing on Friday, External Affairs Ministry Acting Secretary Shenuka Seneviratne has said that Pillay's assertion that Sri Lanka has a long history of abuse of executive is extremely offensive to Sri Lanka and is a statement made clearly beyond her mandate.

The Ministry also has accused Pillay of choosing to raise concerns about the independence and impartiality of the new Chief Justice just as he commences his term in this high office.

The Ministry also has emphasized that Sri Lanka expects reciprocity from their office as Sri Lanka has engaged with the UN system consistently and transparently and no doubt that they would appreciate that it is imperative to base this engagement on the fundamental right of states to be treated equally.

The Ministry has categorically stated that a statement of this palpably biased nature could hurt the engagement between Sri Lanka and the UN.