State Dept report to Congress on final stage of conflict:

No allegations made

The Committee appointed by the President to inquire and report on the allegations contained in the Report submitted by the US to Congress on incidents during the recent conflict in Sri Lanka states that the Report itself does not come to any findings with regard to any of the allegations made and has specifically stated that it had not reached any conclusions whether the incident actually occurred.

According to the press release issued by the Secretary to the Committee to date the Committee has had several sittings and examined public officials including high ranking officers of the armed forces, and medical officers who were attached to Puthukudirippu, Mullaivaikkal and other hospitals during the latter stages of the conflict. The Committee has also examined the provincial Director of Health, Northern province.

The committee further intends examining the Commissioner General of Essential Services having regard to the allegations in the Report that the government failed to provide sufficient food and medical supplies to people in IDP camps and those who were trapped in the No Fire Zones.

Though the report states that information concerning the majority of incidents originated in first-hand accounts communicated by persons from within the government declared No Fire Zones (NFZ’s) and some locations close to the fighting it has not disclosed the identity of the actual sources with a view to preserve confidentiality-except in a few instances where certain organizations have publicly released specific allegations.

The Committee does not have the statutory powers of a Commission of Inquiry appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act and hence has had to make painstaking inquiries through its secretary with regard to the availability and present whereabouts of several public officials who functioned during the period in the areas referred to in the Report. This process was time consuming and the Committee had to obtain an extension of time to submit its Report to His Excellency.

The Committee has yet to consider the allegations under the categories ‘Killing of captives or combatants seeking to surrender’ and ‘Disappearances’.

However, the Committee will endeavour to complete its inquiries and submit its findings and recommendation to His Excellency by the end of July 2010.

The Committee comprises D. S. Wijesinghe, PC (Chairman), C. R. de Silva, PC, Member, Nihal Jayamanne, PC, Member, Mrs. Mano Ramanathan, Member, Mrs. Jezima Ismail, Member, Anura Meddegoda, Member.

The Report details incidents that allegedly occurred during the final months of the conflict ‘between the Government of Sri Lanka and the terrorist organization LTTE that may constitute violations of the international humanitarian law or crimes against humanity and related harms”