Sri Lanka's powerful Buddhist clergy backed the president's rejection of foreign judges within a war crimes inquiry.
The chief secretary of the Asgiriya Buddhist chapter, Dr Medagama Dhammananda said "there was no need for the Government to succumb to international pressure concerning the matter."
“There is no necessity at all to have international judges in an investigation into alleged war crimes. What we explained to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is that during a conflict it is normal for both parties to the conflict to engage in inducing harm and problematic behaviour,” he was quoted by the Nation as saying.
“Those of the State’s security apparatus who worked dedicatedly and in a committed manner during the war should not be troubled in this manner. The President and the Government should not intervene in aiding and abetting such efforts,” he added.
The chief secretary of the Asgiriya Buddhist chapter, Dr Medagama Dhammananda said "there was no need for the Government to succumb to international pressure concerning the matter."
“There is no necessity at all to have international judges in an investigation into alleged war crimes. What we explained to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is that during a conflict it is normal for both parties to the conflict to engage in inducing harm and problematic behaviour,” he was quoted by the Nation as saying.
“Those of the State’s security apparatus who worked dedicatedly and in a committed manner during the war should not be troubled in this manner. The President and the Government should not intervene in aiding and abetting such efforts,” he added.