Lanka ready to probe UN’s claims

Sri Lanka on Sunday said it was ready to probe the allegations raised by UN human rights chief Navi Pillay that some people she met during her mission to probe alleged war crimes committed during the ethnic conflict with the Tamil Tigers had been threatened.

Pillay’s office must provide evidence to prove the allegations in order to investigate it, said government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella. Rambukwella, also the minister of information, told the Colombo Gazette that some groups may attempt to discredit the government by either threatening those who spoke to her or making false claims to that effect.

The minister also said the UN high commissioner of Human Rights was given the freedom to travel and meet anyone she wanted and that opportunity may have been used by those who wanted to meet her and pass false information. Pillay on Saturday said she had received reports that people in villages and settlements in the Mullaitivu area were visited by police or military officers both before and after she arrived in Trincomalee last week, several people she met were subsequently questioned about the content of her conversation with them.

Meanwhile, the government downplayed any negative impact from the visit of Pillay. On Saturday, she said unless Sri Lanka puts in place a credible investigation into alleged high number of disappearances and murders during the armed conflict ‘calls for an international inquiry are likely to continue’.