UN member countries commended role of Sri Lanka's reconciliation commission - Minister

Many member countries of the United nations have commended the role of Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed by the Sri Lankan President to probe the last seven years of the war against Tamil Tiger rebels, a government minister has said.

Addressing a media briefing Tuesday Plantation Industries Minister and Presidential nominee on Human Rights Affairs Mahinda Samarasinghe has said that representatives and ambassadors of many UN member countries expressed their satisfaction on the LLRC during the 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council meeting held in Geneva.

Minister Samarasinghe told the media that he met more than 50 representatives from member countries in Geneva and they understood the importance of having an internal mechanism to probe the incidents happened during the conflict.

An Inter-Agency Committee headed by the Attorney General has already been appointed to facilitate the implementation of the LLRC recommendations without delay and like the LLRC this committee too has made tremendous progress, the Minister has said.

The Minister denied the allegations made by some factions that the LLRC's activities are not transparent.

The Minister assured to implement the recommendations made by LLRC to achive national reconciliation.

Minister Samarasinghe also highlighted the preparation of a national action plan on human rights with the views from the leaders of the civil society and government representatives. It is at the final stage, the Minister added.

The plan will be submitted to the parliamentary advisory committee for human rights, Samarasinghe said adding that after its implementation, a national level committee will be appointed to review the progress.

The UNHCR in Geneva will be informed on the progress of human rights situation in Sri Lanka, the Minister added.