LLRC report almost finalized

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to look into the causes of the conflict and its effect on people in order to further strengthen national unity and reconciliation, is set to finalize its report within the next few days.

“The Commission is in the process of putting the final touches to the report. It would be ready by next week,” Media Coordinator for the LLRC, Lakshman Wickremasinghe said.

According to Wickremasinghe, the final report would be ready well before its due date - November 15 and it would be handed over to the President on a date given by the President’s office.

The report has been compiled based on the observations made by the Commission which includes both oral and written evidence presented by organizations, officials, public and others.

According to Wickremasinghe, oral statements of over 1,000 people and written statements by more than 5,000 have been taken into consideration when compiling the report.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, appointed the LLRC to give effect to the aspirations of the citizens of Sri Lanka. The Commission was mandated to focus on the causes of conflict, its effect on the people, and promote national unity and reconciliation, so that all citizens of Sri Lanka, irrespective of ethnicity or religion could live in dignity and a sense of freedom.

The Commission was asked to identify mechanisms for restitution to the individuals whose lives have been significantly impacted by the conflict.

The LLRC began sittings on August 11, 2010. Any person or organization was free to give evidence before the Commission. Sittings were open to members of the public, unless the witness requested to give evidence in camera.

The Commission also visited areas outside of Colombo to facilitate the general public living in those areas to give evidence, including the North and the East.