Video: Paranagama report more critical than UNHRC report: Rajitha
22 October 2015 10:38 am
Cabinet spokesman and Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne today said the recommendations of the Paranagama Commission report was more critical on Sri Lanka than the UNHRC report and added if it was published before the UNHRC report, the situation would have been more precarious for the country.
Responding to a journalist, Minister Senaratne said Sri Lanka had to go a long way to finalize the domestic mechanism as there was a large number of stakeholders to the problem.
"The process indeed is not an easy task because we have to put in place a mechanism acceptable locally and internationally while safeguarding our sovereignty, judicial independence and dignity of the country. That is why the government has given a two day debate in Parliament on the UNHRC report, Paranagama report and Udalagama report. President Maithripala Sirisena has called an all party confab to discuss the issue and reach a compromise. In addition, the government will talk to all those concerned on the matter before setting up the local mechanism that will probably need to introduce new legislation," he emphasized.
Commenting on the allegations made by the opposition during the ongoing two-day debate in Parliament, Minister Senaratne reiterated that the local mechanism for a credible inquiry on alleged war crimes would be held under the provisions of Sri Lanka’s basic law and within the judicial parameters comprising judges, prosecutors and defense counsel chosen by Sri Lanka.
“But we have been given the opportunity to obtain expert opinion, advice and know-how from foreign experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in this kind of investigations. But it is definitely not that Sri Lanka is going to have a hybrid court for the purpose,” he said and added foreign advice had been sought in the past in murder inquiries of Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, Minister Lalith Athulathmudali and Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa.
Even, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has obtained the services of a team of four foreign eminent persons headed by Sir Desmond De Silva to assist the Paranagama Commission in the recent past, he said.before the UNHRC report, the situation would have been more precarious for Sri Lanka.
opinion, advice and know-how from foreign experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in this kind of investigations. But it is definitely not that Sri Lanka is going to have a hybrid court for the purpose,” he said and added foreign advice had been sought in the past in murder inquiries of Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, Minister Lalith Athulathmudali and Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa.
Even, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has obtained the services of a team of four foreign eminent persons headed by Sir Desmond De Silva to assist the Paranagama Commission in the recent past, he said..
Video by Sanjeewa