The United National Party (UNP) reiterated that it would not allow an international war crimes inquiry to investigate former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former army chief Sarath Fonseka.
Speaking to media on Monday, Deputy Minister of Justice Sujeewa Senasinghe said the world “is aware of the fact that our leaders and the armed forces have carefully conducted this war to save the civilians”.
“We will not allow any international probe against Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Sarath Fonseka,” Minister Senasinghe said, according to the Colombo Mirror.
“We give that pledge. Nobody can play fool with us and ours is an independent democratic country. We pledge that we will not allow our leaders or the armed forces to be tried before international tribunals”.
The minister blamed the former president for allowing the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts to produce a report which alleged serious violations of international humanitarian law.
“It is former president Mahinda Rajapaksa who allowed the Darusman report to be produced. All these charges arose from this Darusman report. We will correct the mistakes committed by Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Mr Senasinghe said.