Speaking in Colombo yesterday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague called for an international investigation into alleged war crimes if the Sri Lankan government fails to undertake an 'independent, thorough and credible' investigation of its own.

Hague said:

"The British government along with other members of the international community has consistently called for an independent, thorough and credible investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of International humanitarian and human rights law by both sides in the military conflict and in the absence of an independent investigation pressure will mount for an international investigation,"

Writing in the Times of India on Thursday, British Prime Minister David Cameron called on the leaders of Commonwealth to unite in pressing for a thorough investigation into Sri Lanka’s war crimes, and for “an end to the intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders, action to stamp out torture, demilitarisation of the north and reconciliation between communities.”

"Of course," Mr. Cameron said, "we need to see a thorough investigation into alleged war crimes, and if it does not happen rapidly, an international independent investigation will be needed."

“The Commonwealth and those attending the summit must use the coming days to highlight and condemn ongoing human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Under no circumstances should Sri Lanka be handed the chair of the organization for the next two years.”

 

"The University Grants Commission announced that classes in all universities would be suspended for the Commonwealth summit, between 11th and 17th November. University students were also ordered to vacate their accommodation for this period.

Photograph Uthayan

Tamils at Valikaamam North continued their protest, now into day 3, against the on-going Sri Lankan military land grabs and enforced High Security Zones within the North-East, despite intimidation and threats.

Vehicle owners transporting demonstrators to the protest site were threatened and had nails thrown at their tires in attempts to prevent the hunger strike gaining mass support.

Tweeting from the protest, the leader of the Tamil National People’s Front party, Gajen Ponnambalam, took the following images:

"I will be meeting him and we will see, I will also have to ask some questions."

"Today no-one is getting killed... there is no killing in Sri Lanka."

"If anyone wants to complain about the human rights violations in Sri Lanka, whether it is torture, whether it is rape, whether it is... We have a system. You all must respect the system of a country, the culture of a country."

"There is 'huge dissent' among the public regarding Callum Macrae, the Channel 4 Director who exposed alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, and the people appear to have taken steps on their own to agitate."

"An important part of my purpose of coming to Sri Lanka was to meet members of the Tamil community as well as those working across Sri Lanka to promote human rights, reconciliation and accountability for past crimes. I am pleased that the Prime Minister is visiting the north of Sri Lanka to see for himself the work that needs to be done to address the legacy of the conflict.