India’s support important to tackle impasse over war crime report - President
May 10, 2011 04:51 pm
President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that India’s support was important in his government’s attempt to tackle the current impasse over a report by an UN advisory panel, accusing it of committing war crimes during the last phase of conflict with the LTTE.
“India has always acted with co-operation with Sri Lanka. Our relations have been good at all times”, Rajapaksa said while addressing the local heads of media institutions during his regular monthly interaction.
He was responding to a query on India’s stand on the panel report which had accused both Sri Lanka and the LTTE of war crimes allegedly committed during the last phase of the military conflict that ended in May 2009.
“India will respond appropriately at the appropriate time”, the Sri Lankan leader said.
The Sri Lankan president added that his government was not taking the report lightly.
“We will respond to the Secretary General in an appropriate manner”, Rajapaksa said.
GL Peiris, the minister of External Affairs said that the top level Indian delegation comprising Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar would be arriving in Colombo next week.
According to media reports, Indian would urge Colombo to speedily address the accountability and reconciliation issues raised in the report.
An Indian government statement last week said the report was being studied carefully. (Agencies)
“India has always acted with co-operation with Sri Lanka. Our relations have been good at all times”, Rajapaksa said while addressing the local heads of media institutions during his regular monthly interaction.
He was responding to a query on India’s stand on the panel report which had accused both Sri Lanka and the LTTE of war crimes allegedly committed during the last phase of the military conflict that ended in May 2009.
“India will respond appropriately at the appropriate time”, the Sri Lankan leader said.
The Sri Lankan president added that his government was not taking the report lightly.
“We will respond to the Secretary General in an appropriate manner”, Rajapaksa said.
GL Peiris, the minister of External Affairs said that the top level Indian delegation comprising Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar would be arriving in Colombo next week.
According to media reports, Indian would urge Colombo to speedily address the accountability and reconciliation issues raised in the report.
An Indian government statement last week said the report was being studied carefully. (Agencies)
