By Xinhua,
Colombo : A special presidential panel appointed to probe incidents of human rights abuses in the country is now set to submit its reports on two cases to President Mahinda Rajapakse, officials said on Saturday.
Nissanka Udalagama, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (COI),said the case on the killing of 17 aid workers of a French charity ACF (Action contre la Faim) in 2006 and the case on the gunning down of five students in the eastern port town of Trincomalee alsoin the same year would be submitted to Rajapaske in July.
“We have compiled evidence in order to finalize reports,” Udalagama told reporters, adding they would name those responsible depending on the evidence available and recommend action to prevent such abuses in future.
He said President Rajapakse would study their reports as he had appointed the COI to go into the alleged rights abuses.
Rajapakse in November 2006 appointed the Udalagama panel to inquire in to some 12 cases of rights abuses blamed on both the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) rebels and the military.
The cases include the August 2005 murder of the former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, a bitter opponent of the rebels.
Rajapakse as means of ensuring transparency on the COI process invited the International Independent Group of Imminent Persons (IIGEP) to supervise the proceedings.
However the IIGEP from time to time criticized the slow progress in the COI and flaws in its process.
The Sri Lankan government have faced condemnation from international human rights watch groups for its poor rights record in pursuing the on going military thrust against the LTTE rebels.