Fri, Dec 13, 2013, 12:40 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Dec 12, Strasbourg: The European Parliament at its plenary session in Strasbourg Thursday passed a resolution asking the Sri Lankan government to implement the recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee in full.Issuing a statement the European Parliament said the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) appreciate the restoration of peace and welcome the first ever elections in the Northern Province.
However, they noted with concern that "the presence of government military forces in the former conflict areas remains considerable" and that there are continuing reports of intimidation and human rights violations.
Speaking at the debate on the current situation in Sri Lanka, British Conservative MP Geoffrey Van Orden raised the issue of the Tamils in Northern Sri Lanka.
Pointing out that four years have passed since the end of the conflict between the government forces and the Tamil Tiger terrorists, British Liberal Democrat MP Phil Bennion said the people of Sri Lanka deserve to know what happened to friends and family during the civil war and called for an independent inquiry into the actions of both sides.
The EP in its resolution said the Sri Lankan government must intensify its efforts to fully implement the LLRC recommendations concerning credible investigations, demilitarization, and the establishment of land dispute resolution mechanisms, amongst others.
