WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s foreign minister said yesterday he is willing to consider international participation in investigating possible war crimes during the 26-year Tamil insurgency.
“I think it is only fair that the victims of the war would want some form of guarantee that the new courts will deliver justice and accountability in a fair manner, and for that we are willing to consider the participation of international actors,” Mangala Samaraweera, the minister, said at a Washington think tank.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has previously said that foreign participation was not needed for an impartial inquiry.
The foreign minister’s comments come after the United Nations said earlier this month that it would not force Sri Lanka to accept a role for international judges, but any process must be impartial and independent.
