UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is “encouraged” by the Sri Lankan government’s response to a UN report about abuses during the war with LTTE.
Ban’s statement followed the release of the long-awaited report from the UN human rights office on Wednesday which alleged that tens of thousands of people had disappeared during the bitter conflict.
Colombo in response did not commit to the UN’s key recommendation to allow international experts to assist its domestic investigation, but pledged to punish those found guilty of war crimes during the 26-year war.
Ban said on Thursday he was “encouraged by the response of, and commitment expressed by, the government of Sri Lanka and the opposition to consult widely with all stakeholders and take meaningful action to address these issues.”
He also said he hopes the report’s recommendations will support government efforts in “a genuine and credible process of accountability and reconciliation that meets international standards”.
“The victims of all communities, their families and the Sri Lankan nation itself demand no less than a full and proper reckoning,” Ban said.
The UN report identified patterns of grave violations “strongly indicating that war crimes and crimes against humanity” had been committed by both sides, AAP reports.
