Sri Lanka to start accountability process to investigate war abuses next month

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday said that the accountability process to investigate incidents related to the island nation's 30- year civil war would begin next month.

Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga who is now heading the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation under the President Maithripala Sirisena government, told journalists in the capital that the government is committed to achieving reconciliation and brining to justice all those who were allegedly involved in committing human rights violations.

Thousands of civilians, mostly minority Tamils, were alleged to have been killed in the conflict between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels which ended in May 2009.

Kumaratunga said that special courts would be set up in the country which will be led by Sri Lankans and with international technical assistance.

She stressed that Sri Lanka now has the golden opportunity to achieve reconciliation, adding that the government is committed to ensuring durable peace through building bridges among all its communities.

Sources: XINHUA