US to 'observe' probe by Lanka commission into 'war crimes'

The United States today said it will "observe" functioning of the reconciliation commission set up by the Sri Lankan government, hoping that it will have broad mandate to pursue allegations of wartime atrocities.
    
Secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who held talks with visiting Sri Lankan foreign minister GL Peiris, also said Washington fully supports ethnic and political reconciliation efforts of the Island nation.
    
"We are very supportive of the approach taken by the Sri Lankans. We will continue to work with them and observe this
commission. We expect it would be given a broad enough mandate with the resources necessary to be able to follow the trail of any evidence that is presented," Clinton said.
    
Lanka recently set up the commission to probe allegations of human rights violations during the last phase of the civil war but did not allow any independent body to investigate the charges despite pressure from global community.
    
"It is important that the Commission members be and are perceived as being independent, impartial and competent. We expect that the mandate would enable them to fully investigate serious allegations of violations, that they make public their recommendations..," she said, adding the issue of internally displaced people was also discussed.

Pleased that the Sri Lankan Government is committed to re-establish democracy in the country after the end of nearly
three decades of civil war that ended with the defeat of LTTE last year, Clinton said: "Sri Lanka would remain a strong and
united country by drawing on the strength of all of its citizens, valuing the diversity of its people and ensuring equal rights."

Peiris said one of the challenges in Sri Lanka is to revive the institutions of democracy, now that the country is returning to normal.