Sri Lanka's Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the government will conduct a credible, domestic inquiry, in response to a statement by Human Rights Watch earlier this week, demanding an international process for accountability.
"I must say that our domestic inquiry would definitely be a credible mechanism acceptable to the international community. We are in constant touch with the relevant global agencies and organizations in constituting this panel for a credible investigation.
“Sri Lanka has also sought the advice of eminent persons like Sir Desmond De Silva of UK who has a thorough knowledge on International Humanitarian Law. The term of reference, formation and the composition of the inquiry panel would be known by before the UNHRC report releases in September," the minister told the Daily Mirror.
He said the international community appreciates the way the new Sri Lankan government conducts its affairs.
“The global community has been much flexible and cooperative with the new government,” he said.
“The global community has expressed its agreement and satisfaction over the style of the new government runs affairs - the maintaining of Judicial Independence in particular and the appointment of a Chief Justice adhering to the accepted norms and traditions,” he said.
"Sri Lanka has given a pledge in May 23, 2009 to the Secretary General of the UN Ban-ki Moon that we would initiate credible mechanism to probe and follow up action on incidences of human rights violations allegedly occurred at the tail end of the war against terrorism.
“We cannot over-ride that pledge and we would definitely launch a domestic inquiry acceptable to the international and local community in our own way," the minister stressed.
Accountability process in Sri Lanka must be international, urges HRW (15 June 2015)
Sri Lanka confirms ‘internal consultations’ over domestic investigation of mass atrocities (17 June 2015)
US calls on Sri Lanka to ‘ensure accountability and reconciliation’(15 Jun 2015)
Consult with victims to establish accountability mechanism by September – UN Human Rights Chief(15 Jun 2015)
International investigators will not be allowed into Sri Lanka says Sirisena (20 May 2015)
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