Lanka will not agree to international probe on MR

The Government said that it will not agree to an international war crimes investigation on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said that the position of the Government is that a domestic mechanism will be setup to investigate allegations over the war on?the LTTE.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is scheduled to release a report in September at the UN Human Rights Council on the war.

The report will look at allegations that civilians were killed during the last stages of the conflict before the rebels were defeated in 2009.

Some International human rights groups have been calling for a UN backed international probe on the war and for those accused to be taken before an international war crimes tribunal.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights compiled a report on the war based on statements collected from the families of victims and eyewitnesses and Senaratne said a copy of the report is expected to be handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena next month.

However he said even if the report suggests an international investigation or for those accused to be taken to an international court, the Sri Lankan Government will not agree.

He said the Government position has been that only an internationally accepted local process will be used to ensure accountability over the war. (Colombo Gazette)