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Last Updated : 2024-04-23 22:35:00
6 July 2016 05:28 pm - 5 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Maithripala Sirisena has expressed an opinion on the final accountability mechanism and both the President and the Prime Minister would look at all the available alternatives before making a final decision which will be acceptable to the majority of all stakeholders, Foreign Affairs Minister Managala Samaraweera today said.
Responding to a question during a news conference held at the ministry that statements made by President and the Premier seemed they have already decided about certain measures (on an accountability mechanism), he said no decision had been made and the leaders have only expressed their opinions.
“Sri Lanka has a democracy where even the leader of the republic has the right to express his opinion. The President has said so and we respect his views. But finally, we know the President and the Prime Minister will look at all the options available and take a decision which will be acceptable to the majority of the stakeholders,” he said.
Commenting on seeking foreign assistance in the process of accountability, Minister Samaraweera said there could be areas in which foreign expertise could be needed and said seeking foreign assistance was not alien to Sri Lanka or wrong.
“Foreign expertise was sought in the past as well to look into the assassination of Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. The President only opposed to the involvement of foreign judges. There are many opinions. A majority including the President expressed sentiments against foreign judges while the TNA and others support the involvement of foreign judges. But, we think there are several alternatives between these two. There is no need to worry. In the final outcome, if this is to work, this must be a credible alternative not an attempt to satisfy ourselves. I’m confident that we can come up with such a mechanism once the consultations are over,” he said.(Lahiru Pothmulla)
Pix by Kithsiri De Mel
Silver Wednesday, 06 July 2016 06:14 PM
Mangala is right as usual. As he has already committed Sri Lanka to allow foreign judges in the investigation, we must go ahead and do so. Otherwise he will lose credibility. There is no reason to worry - only some of those war hero's may be found guilty and punished.
Sense Wednesday, 06 July 2016 06:41 PM
If we do not have any thing to hide or be scared of it is not necessary to oppose foreign judges? Also for it to be a credible process and to bring closure to the families of victims foreign judges should be brought in. If people have empathy towards those effected, then there wouldn't be any objections. We keep on slandering Arjuna Mahendran for the bond issue, and then object to a credible process for those affected during the war.
Dilshan Wednesday, 06 July 2016 08:23 PM
Better than the foreign judges send the whole process to the international criminal court. Sri Lanka has nothing to hide.
nimal Thursday, 07 July 2016 02:50 AM
We don't need foreign judges.How about war crimes committed by LTTE and also by USA in Iraq, Afghanistan.
Cricket Thursday, 07 July 2016 05:52 AM
How could Cricket Test matches and other international sports events played in Sri Lanka always have INTERNATIONAL Umpires and an International Referees ?
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