The former US ambassador at large for war crimes, Stephen Rapp said the Sri Lanka's government's delay in establishing an accountability mechanism could be an attempt to avoid it entirely, in an interview to the Daily FT.
“The Government could begin setting up those investigation units, a prosecutor’s office that could determine if there are cases and start putting cases together even if the court does not start work immediately,” Mr Rapp told the paper.
“Putting off the establishment of justice mechanisms could be an attempt to avoid it entirely,” he added.
Highlighting the need for a process of criminal justice, Mr Rapp commended the government's removal of what he described as a "firewall" of information from the draft Office of Missing Persons bill.
“Removing that blockade was important because it is from truth-seeking that justice processes begin. The clamour for criminal justice springs from a truth-seeking process. It’s important for Sri Lanka to move from truth-seeking to delivering justice,” he said, adding, “that kind of block on information would effectively stop justice processes."
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