Sri Lankan Army on Thursday dismissed a government panel's recommendation to demilitarise the former battle zones in Tamil-dominated north and east of the country to achieve normalcy.
In a report released here on Thursday after a six-member committee had reviewed the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations, the Army said that ‘the government has an absolute right to maintain its armed forces anywhere in the island according to the country's strategic and security needs’.
‘The military presence must progressively recede to the background to enable the people to return to normal civilian life and enjoy the benefits of peace,’ the LLRC had recommended.
De-militarisation of north and east has been a key area of concern for rights groups and international community in the post-LTTE conflict era since May 2009.
Commenting on the LLRC's reference to civilian casualties in the final battle, the Army says it had taken all precautions to avoid civilian casualties. In order to totally eliminate or minimise collateral damage in the future, the Army said it has recommended to re-evaluate all military disciplines and to formulate new doctrines.
The Sri Lankan Army was accused of causing heavy civilian casualties in the last stages of the conflict with the LTTE. The LLRC contended that the Army needs to investigate such allegations.
The military held that the LTTE was firing from civilian locations with heavy weaponry while using civilians as human shields.
In a report released here on Thursday after a six-member committee had reviewed the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations, the Army said that ‘the government has an absolute right to maintain its armed forces anywhere in the island according to the country's strategic and security needs’.
‘The military presence must progressively recede to the background to enable the people to return to normal civilian life and enjoy the benefits of peace,’ the LLRC had recommended.
De-militarisation of north and east has been a key area of concern for rights groups and international community in the post-LTTE conflict era since May 2009.
Commenting on the LLRC's reference to civilian casualties in the final battle, the Army says it had taken all precautions to avoid civilian casualties. In order to totally eliminate or minimise collateral damage in the future, the Army said it has recommended to re-evaluate all military disciplines and to formulate new doctrines.
The Sri Lankan Army was accused of causing heavy civilian casualties in the last stages of the conflict with the LTTE. The LLRC contended that the Army needs to investigate such allegations.
The military held that the LTTE was firing from civilian locations with heavy weaponry while using civilians as human shields.