A high-level delegation led by Sri Lankan Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe left for United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday to discuss alleged war crimes committed by the government troops in the final battles with Tamil Tiger rebels last year.

The delegation will discuss the allegations made by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka that the island's Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered Sri Lanka Army to kill Tamil Tiger rebels who came out with white flags during the final phase of the battles in May 2009, said Samarasinghe.

He said they will meet Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during their stay in Geneva.

Fonseka, who led Sri Lankan Army to defeat Tamil Tiger rebels, said in an interview with a local newspaper that the defense secretary ordered the then commander of the Army's 58 division to kill the rebels who surrendered with white flags.

However, Fonseka denied it later and said the newspaper misquoted his comment.

Several media and people's organizations came together and organized a protest in front of Colombo Fort Railway Station today (Feb. 08) against what they called the repression of media institutions and threats to media personnel.

They joined hands under the banner of 'Journalists Against Repression.'

Speaking here, secretary of the Free Media Movement Sunil Jayasekara accused the government of clamping down on the media after the presidential election.

As part of that clampdown, a partly successful attempt had been made to seal off a newspaper.

With 15 days gone since the disappearance of freelance journalist Pragith Eknaligoda, police are yet to find any clue about his fate, said Mr. Jayasekara.

The detention of 'Lanka' editor Chandana Sirimalwatte without a charge is an indication of the government’s media repression, he said.

Several journalists in state media institutions who had not joined the government’s political propaganda campaign have lost their jobs, while many others have been attacked by state-sponsored thugs, the FMM spokesman added.