Sri Lanka’s President reiterated that international investigators would not be allowed into the country to probe war crimes allegations, reports Shanghai Daily.
“We have had talks with the UN on investigations. As a government we have told them we will not allow foreign investigators coming to Sri Lanka. However we will take advice from the UN and conduct a domestic investigation,” said Maithripala on Wednesday.
Pointing to a domestic investigation, that he intended to launch next month, Sirisena added,
“We will ensure our sovereignty is protected in the human rights investigation. We need to brief the Human Rights Council in September on the domestic mechanism. So the mechanism will be in place by June.”
Sirisena's statement comes as his governemnt faces criticism for reneging on commitments to accountability and peace building by reinstating military personnel accused of being responsible for mass atrocities, including Sarath Fonseka and Major General Jagath Dias.
Maj Gen Dias promotion 'major setback' for peace-building in Sri Lanka - NGOs (20 May 2015)
Accused war criminal Jagath Dias made Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka’s Army (14 May 2015)
Domestic mechanism will ‘salvage the good name of armed forces’ - Sri Lankan FM (07 May 2015)
'I am ready for any inquiry anywhere in the world' says Fonseka (31 Mar 2015)
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