The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said it "unequivocally welcomes" the UNHRC mandated inquiry into mass atrocities in Sri Lanka, said the leader, R. Sampanthan on Tuesday, during a parliamentary debate on whether to allow the international investigative team into the country as part of the inquiry.

See here for full address, extracts published below:

"Today, non-violent protestors in the South are shot at. Journalists are killed or sent into exile. Dissenters are not welcomed. In the North, the situation is even worse. People are not even allowed the troubled comfort of remembering their dead. Journalists from the critical press are routinely attacked, including in broad daylight."

"The recent report “Stop Torture” provides medical and forensic evidence suggesting that sexual violence and torture against Tamil women and men continues, with reports emerging from as late as January 2014. Further, the evidence suggests that this sexual violence is targeted systematically to suppress the political rights of the Tamil people."

"The forthcoming investigation by the United Nations is not “against” Sri Lanka. It is against perpetrators of gross violations of humanitarian and human rights law. It is against the culture of impunity that has victimised the whole country. It is against the disappearances of youth in the North as much as it is against past disappearances of youth in the South; it is against the crimes of Weliveriya, Mullivaikkal, and most recently Dharga Town. It is against the crimes of the LTTE and it is against the crimes of the regime."

"For these reasons, the TNA unequivocally welcomes this investigation into both sides. Just as we look forward to the investigation as an opportunity for the Tamil people to introspect on the crimes committed in our own name, we call on the government to use the investigation as an opportunity to dramatically break with the past and usher in a new era of justice, reconciliation and harmony amongst all Sri Lanka’s peoples."

See related articles:

LSSP reiterates rejection of UN investigation (15 Jun 2014)

Opposition parties to abstain on debate on int'l inquiry (15 Jun 2014)

JVP reiterates opposition to international inquiry (13 Jun 2014)

UNP: refusing to cooperate with UN inquiry is an 'injustice to valiant soldiers’ (12 Jun 2014)