The United States has released a statement calling on Sri Lanka to hold independent and credible investigations into reported human rights abuses, adding that, where relevant, prosecutions should also be taking place.

In a statement marking the end of US Ambassador at large for War Crimes Stephen Rapp’s visit to the island, the United States said he had heard about the “continuing desire for reconciliation, justice and accountability”.

It went on to add,

“During Ambassador Rapp's discussions, he listened to eyewitness accounts about serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those that occurred at the end of the war. In that context the government of the United States encourages the government of Sri Lanka to seek the truth through independent and credible investigations, and where relevant, have prosecutions.”

See the full statement here.

On his visit Rapp was told of the use of chemical weapons and cluster bombs by the Sri Lankan armed forces and visited sites which saw the “killing of hundreds of families by army shelling”, according to the US Embassy.

Rapp's presence also drew angry demonstrations from Sinhala protestors, who labelled him a “threat to world peace”, as well as harsh statements from ruling political parties and even the army itself, who denied the reports of killings as "baseless" and "fabricated".