Pressure builds for investigation of war crimes in Sri Lanka

A top State Department official is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on Friday after the United States has announced that it would seek a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding allegations of war crimes having occurred in Sri Lanka.  Nisha Biswal, the assistant secretary of state for Central and South Asian affairs, is expected to meet with government officials and members of the opposition at the capital.  Keheliya Rambukwella, a government spokesman, stated that Ms. Biswal's visit was an opportunity for the United States to witness "firsthand the progress Sri Lanka has made in its reconciliation efforts."  The Human Rights Council has already passed two resolutions pressuring the Sri Lankan government to investigate war crimes but this time, the United States may ask for an independent international investigation (one that does not rest on the Sri Lankan government).  In the last few years, videos and pictures of what appear to be executed civilians have leaked out of the country, suggesting that the government killed 40,000 people in the war's final stages back in 2009.  Lalith Weeratunga, the permanent secretary to the Sri Lankan president, said that if these investigations were pursued, the government would extend the search back to the 1980s when India led military operations in the region.  Human rights groups have accused the Indian peacekeeping troops of committing abuses toward the Tamil Tigers during these operations, and so Mr. Weeratunga has stated that revisiting these allegations would disturb their relations with India.

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Amanda Ngo