Asked about the visit of US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the office of Global Criminal Justice, Stephen J. Rapp, who is currently in Sri Lanka to discuss war crime allegations and accountability issues, two months ahead of the United Nations Human Rights Commission sessions to be commenced on March 3, Perera said: “He has come to see how we have fared in terms of achieving national reconciliation in view of implementing recommendations in the LLRC report.”
Asked if they were satisfied with the progress that the country has made in this regard, Deputy Minister Perera said: “The National Action Plan for the implementation of the LLRC recommendations is there. The LLRC recommendations are being implemented. Those recommendations are there essentially to satisfy the people of this land and not to satisfy international interests.”
Asked what will Sri Lanka do at the the forthcoming UNHRC sessions, he said the country will present its report on the progress it has made in terms of achieving its post-war reconciliation as it did in all the other years.
“There is more progress to be discerned every year. I hope that US Ambassador Rapp, who is currently in the country, has come to an understanding about the country’s position in this regard and how it has fared in terms of achieving national reconciliation, ” the Deputy Minister said.
Rapp will stay in the country until January 11.
Deputy Minister Perera said United States Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswala is also due to arrive in Sri Lanka following the visit of US Ambassador Rapp, to make some observations about the country’s post -war reconciliation process in view of the LLRC report.
The recommendations in the LLRC report is being implemented according to the country’s ground situation in keeping with the interests of the public in Sri Lanka.
The issues are being addressed and will be addressed according to their wishes to satisfy them. Sri Lanka will not be dictated to by any external element in implementing its domestic programs such as the LLRC, Perera said.
Chamikasra Weerasinghe
CDN