Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation:

Commission seeks evidence from public

The Commission of Inquiry on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation has issued a public notice calling for written representations from the public or individual organizations as the eight member panel prepares to commence sittings.

The Commission, which was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa states that individuals or organizations can in the first instance, submit written representations to the Commission, and the Commission after examining the representations received may invite any person or organization to give oral evidence.

The notice further said that arrangements could be made for any person or organization to give evidence in camera and every person who gives evidence before the Commission shall be entitled to the privileges for witnesses as provided for in the Commissions of Inquiry Act.

The Commission will inquire and report into events which took place between February 21, 2002 and May 19, 2009; namely the facts and circumstances which led to the failure of the ceasefire agreement and the sequence and events which followed thereafter up to the end of the war. The notice further says the Commission will also inquire whether any person, group or institution, directly or indirectly bears responsibility in this regard.

The Commission will also inquire into the institutional, administrative and legislative measures which need to be taken in order to prevent any recurrence of such concerns in the future.

Written submissions must be sent to: Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Room No 2-118, BMICH Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka