Russia condemn war crime probe attempt on Sri Lanka

Russia has condemned the attempts being made by certain foreign countries at the behest of the tiger terrorist elements to force an international probe on Sri Lanka alleging that there were civilian deaths and rights abuses during the final stages of the war against the Tamil Tiger terrorists.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting with the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris has said that attempts to force an international probe are absolutely wrong.

He has said that attempts to force international investigation on Sri Lanka without permission from Sri Lanka and bypassing the UN Security Council are absolutely wrong, and such attempts contradict Russia’s aspirations in the human rights sphere.

Minister Lavrov has emphasized that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by Sri Lanka, which has already issued its report is a trustworthy commission.(niz)