Sri Lanka dismisses allegations in US Congressional report

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 October 2009, 12:07 GMT]
"Sri Lanka’s domestic jurisprudence provides all the necessary scope for those perceiving themselves subjected to a violation of their human rights, to obtain redress through judicial directives to the concerned authorities," a statement issued by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday saying that "the allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka in the document 'Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka', appear to be unsubstantiated and devoid of corroborative evidence."

Extracts from the statement from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs follow:

"[...] Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to point out that Sri Lanka has since gaining independence, maintained an unbroken commitment to democratic governance, with the rule of law remaining paramount. Hence, the practice of the Government of Sri Lanka is always to subject to investigation under domestic law and processes those allegations that “prima facie” appear to be credible and well substantiated. Moreover, Sri Lanka’s domestic jurisprudence provides all the necessary scope for those perceiving themselves subjected to a violation of their human rights, to obtain redress through judicial directives to the concerned authorities.

"However, it must also be said that the allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka in the document “Report to Congress on Incidents During the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka”, appear to be unsubstantiated and devoid of corroborative evidence. There is a track record of vested interests endeavouring to bring the Government of Sri Lanka into disrepute, through fabricated allegations and concocted stories. Thereby these interests hope to fan, once again, the flames of secessionism and to undo the concerted efforts of the Government and people of Sri Lanka, for rehabilitation and national reconciliation. The people of Sri Lanka therefore have every reason to be concerned that this report to the US Congress, may be abused for a similar end."

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