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Sri Lanka says no foreign experts in domestic war crimes probe

Xinhua, February 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Sri Lankan government on Friday said it would not invite any foreign experts in its domestic probe into allegations of war crimes and maintained that the inquiry would take place within Sri Lanka's legal system.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera told Xinhua that preliminary discussions into the conduct of the domestic inquiry had already begun and the government would finalize a structure soon.

"The domestic inquiry will be 100 percent local. We will only use the assistance of local judges, local laws and the local court system. However, we will ensure that the domestic inquiry will meet international standards," Perera said.

He, however, added that technical assistance from the UN would be sought while conducting the local investigations.

Perera further said the government hopes to introduce new laws before conducting the domestic inquiry in order to ensure that the probe will meet international standards and ensure the safety of those who testify.

Soon after the victory of Sri Lanka's new President Maithripala Sirisena in the presidential elections last month, Sirisena's new government assured the international community that it would conduct a local probe into allegations of war crimes committed during the final months of the island nation's 30-year civil war which ended in May 2009.

Sri Lanka, earlier this week, won a six-month extension on the submission of a report on war crimes investigated by the UN to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), after the council chief praised the government's willingness to open the country up to scrutiny.

While appreciating the UNHRC's extension, Perera said the government hoped to finalize the legal framework and logistical issues of its domestic probe before the UN report is submitted to the council in September. Endi