By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday said he was willing to “look into” human rights issues surrounding the war that crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009.
Faced with tough questions from the international media about Colombo’s human rights record that include allegations of killing civilians in the last phase of the war, Rajapaksa responded that ending the war has been immensely beneficial for Sri Lanka, reports Xinhua.
Attending his first press conference ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that kicks off Friday, Rajapaksa was adamant that there have been adequate systems established by his government to tackle human rights issues in Sri Lanka.
“You have to remember that we have suffered for the last 30 years. All people have suffered, but as I said earlier there is no one getting killed in Sri Lanka now. At least to end that menace is something people appreciate,” Rajapaksa said.
As one of the international reporters asked questions on allegations of civilian killings, Rajapaksa insisted that “(civilians were killed) not just in 2009, there were people being killed for 30 years. There are no killings now”.
Rajapaksa insisted that complaints on human rights need to follow the legal system established by Sri Lanka and stated he would be willing to impartially investigate allegations.
“We are ready to look into it. We will take action against anybody. I am ready to do that. So we are very open. We have nothing to hide,” he added.
The spotlight on Sri Lanka’s human rights situation intensified after Rajapaksa was given the chairmanship of the Commonwealth till the end of 2014.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper led the international protest over Sri Lanka’s rights record by boycotting CHOGM. His Indian and Mauritius counterparts also bowed out from the leaders’ summit.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he would raise accountability issues with Rajapaksa once he arrives for CHOGM and visit the former war-torn north to see the region’s situation first hand.