David Cameron welcomes UNHRC decision on Sri Lanka

British Prime Minister David Cameron today welcomed the decision of the UNHRC to initiate its own independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

"I am pleased that the UN Human Rights Council has today agreed to press ahead with its own independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka," Cameron said.

"This is a victory for the people of Sri Lanka who need to know the truth about what happened during those terrible years of the civil war so that they can move forward," he said in a statement.

Cameron said today's outcome has been "triggered by the failure of the Sri Lankan government to stand by its promises to credibly and independently investigate alleged violations on both sides during the war" against the LTTE.

"I hope that President (Mahinda) Rajapaksa will now seize this fresh opportunity to work with the international community to heal the issues of the past and to reconcile communities across Sri Lanka," he said.

This is the best way to achieve an inclusive and prosperous future and to ensure that Sri Lanka achieves its amazing potential, Cameron said.

"I am proud of the crucial role that Britain has played to secure this outcome. I said in November that we would achieve more by standing up for our values rather than sitting on the sidelines. And that is exactly what we have done," he said.

During his visit to Colombo in November last year for the Commonwealth summit had given Sri Lanka an ultimatum to conduct a credible probe into the war crimes by March, failing which he would seek an international investigation.