Thaindian News

Colombo, April 27 (IANS) Sri Lanka Wednesday described as “fundamentally flawed” a UN panel report that ruled that war crimes were committed in the island during the end of the war in 2009.

The report “is fundamentally flawed in many respects and that among other deficiencies, it is based on biased material, which is presented without any verification”, a government statement said.

It said that following the end of the conflict, Colombo gave the highest priority to post-conflict reconciliation, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development.

“The government is in the process of addressing these challenges and has recorded significant success on many fronts, including in the resettlement of internally displaced persons, restoring livelihood in conflict affected areas, release of former child soldiers recruited by terrorists, rehabilitation of detainees, de-mining, restoring democratic processes in the north and east as well as in the reconstruction of housing and infrastructure.

“We are moving gradually and confidently forward along a process that will consolidate national unity and progress,” it said.

The statement said the public release of the report “at this stage is divisive and disrupts our efforts to reinforce peace, security and stability in Sri Lanka. It feeds into the political agendas of interested parties”.

The UN sponsored report has ruled that the Sri Lankan military had killed thousands as it sought to crush the Tamil Tigers in 2009. It said that war crimes had been committed in the conflict zone.