Sri Lanka's Reconciliation Commission holds public sittings in northwestern districts

Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) is holding field visits this weekend in the Northwestern part of the country.

The Commission was holding public sessions and field visits in Mannar district during the weekend.

The LLRC held a session in Puttalam on last Friday (07) at the Puttalam District Secretariat to record evidence from the public. The sitting was headed by its Chairman C.R. de Silva.

The Reconciliation Commission appointed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has previously held public hearings in the war-battered towns of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, and Mullaitivu in Northern Province and Batticaloa in Eastern Province.

Former Deputy Mayor of Jaffna M.G.M. Basir giving evidence before the Commission explained to the Commission the serious hardships the Muslims had to face due to the failed ceasefire agreement problems.

A large number of people have presented evidence to the LLRC during its public hearing. Among them, a member of the Wayamba Provincial Council R.M. Soysa, has given evidence on the people who fled the North and arrived in Puttalam due to the LTTE threats, the state-run TV, ITN reported.

The LLRC has no field visits scheduled for the rest of January in its calendar.

The seven-member Commission is currently in the process of gathering evidence to prepare a report on the ethnic issue and how to overcome such situations in future. The Commission is to submit its report by May 15, 2011.