Final decision on not presenting LLRC report not decided

THURSDAY, 02 FEBRUARY 2012
The government today said it had not taken a final decision on not presenting the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report to UN Human Rights Commission in March this year.

This is contrary to the statement made by External Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris at a press conference last week that the report would not be presented to UN Human Rights Commission.

Acting Minister of Mass Media and Minister of Environment Anura Priyadharashana Yapa told the cabinet briefing that the government is yet to decide on the matter.

He said the world is actually aware what had been said in this report and therefore the government is assessing whether it is necessary to present it to the Human Rights council in Geneva.

Referring to granting police powers to the provinces, the Minister said that there had been only one police service that had existed in the country ever since the department came into exist. He said there are practical issues when it comes to land powers. The Minister said the lands that are to be handed over to the provincial councils in the
event such powers are devolved to them are state lands. “Therefore it is necessary to look at all these issues when devolving such powers,” he said.

Responding to a question raised by the journalists on India when it comes to the national issue, the Minister said it is not an issue as long as Sri Lanka manages to maintain bilateral relationship with the central government of India. “Relationships with the state governments of India does not matter as long as Sri Lanka maintains a sound
bilateral relationship with the central government,” he said. (Yohan Perera)