Opposition questions contradictory comments on war crimes probe

The opposition today questioned the contradictory comments?being made by the Government on the war crimes investigation.

Joint opposition member and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena said that while the Foreign Ministry had told the UN?international judges will be allowed to assist the probe on the war in Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena had said the opposite in an interview with the BBC.

Gunawardena told Parliament today that the contradictory statements by the Government has resulted in the Government being criticized by human rights groups like the New York based Human Rights Watch.

President Maithripala Sirisena had told the BBC that foreign judges will not be involved in the domestic process to investigate the war while earlier Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had told the UN Human Rights Council that foreign assistance will be obtained.

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) opposition Parliamentarian?Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that the Foreign Ministry and the President seem to be operating two Governments.

He says even Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe does not seem to agree with the decisions taken by the Foreign Ministry.

Nanayakkara says the Foreign Ministry will now need to approach the UN Human Rights Council and withdraw the agreement reached with the Council on the domestic process to investigate incidents related to the war, since it does not seem to have the backing of the President. (Colombo Gazette)