US welcomes action plan of Sri Lankan govt

Colombo: The US today welcomed Sri Lankan government’s action plan to implement the recommendations of a panel investigating alleged human rights violations during the final stages of the war with the LTTE in 2009, saying it will help achieve reconciliation and long term peace. “The United States welcomes the release of the National Action Plan by the Government of Sri Lanka,” the US embassy releasing a statement said. [caption id=“attachment_402611” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] Sri Lankan cabinet approved the action plan to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) which was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to look back at the debilitating ethnic clashes which spanned over three decades. “We have long encouraged the full implementation of the recommendations outlined by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission,” the statement said. “We believe that full implementation of the National Action Plan will benefit all citizens of Sri Lanka by furthering long-term reconciliation and lasting peace,” it added. The US had moved the resolution at the UN Human Rights Council against Sri Lanka in March, asking the country to expeditiously implement the LLRC proposals as means to achieve reconciliation with the Tamil minority. It asked Sri Lanka to present, as expeditiously as possible, a comprehensive action plan detailing the steps the government has taken and will take to implement the (LLRC) recommendations, and also to address alleged violations of international law. The LLRC was Sri Lanka’s response to international calls for accountability over its alleged human rights violations during the last phase of the military campaign against the LTTE. The action plan unveiled last week gave time frames for implementation of the LLRC recommendations. The roadmap has committed the completion of ongoing “disciplinary” investigations by the security forces within 12 months and ensure that any resulting criminal charges are filed in court within another four years. PTI