The External Affairs Minister GL Peiris has called on the opposition’s presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena to provide a clarification on the domestic panel he said he would appoint to investigate war crimes allegations against the military, reported the Daily Mirror.

“This is a matter that will have far-reaching consequences. A clear statement is certainly required from the opposition candidate with regard to the nature of the investigation which he proposes to undertake, the powers and scope of the tribunal he plans to appoint, and the use he plans to make of the findings,” Peiris said.

“The country has a right to know whether Mr. Sirisena is prepared to make compromises on this vital issue for narrow political gains. He seems to be under the mistaken impression that we are in no danger simply because Sri Lanka has not signed the Rome Statute. But recent experience shows that countries which are not signatories, can also be vulnerable,” he said, adding that Sirisena is trying to please those who are exerting pressure on Sri Lanka and is willing to sacrifice vital interests and the safety of the military.

Sirisena had previously pledged to strengthen domestic inquiry mechanisms in order to avert the international inquiry currently ongoing at the UN Human Rights Council.

Rejecting the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka, Sirisena in his manifesto vowed to protect every Sri Lankan citizen from international justice mechanisms.

Maithripala manifesto released: vows to prevent international justice mechanisms and protect SL sovereignty (19 Dec 2014)

Opposition reiterate rejection of UN inquiry (17 Dec 2014)

I will protect Rajapaksas from war crime charges – Maithripala (28 Nov 2014)