Foreign Office Minister responds to Channel 4 documentary on Sri Lanka
Minister for South Asia Alistair Burt spoke after the transmission of Channel 4's documentary 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, War Crimes Unpunished'.
鈥淥nce again, Channel 4 has brought to international attention important and disturbing evidence to support allegations of grave abuses in Sri Lanka.
鈥淪ince the end of the conflict, the international community has called for an independent, credible and thorough investigation into alleged war crimes on both sides of the conflict. Channel 4鈥檚 documentaries reinforce the need for that investigation.
鈥淚 continue to believe that Sri Lanka, in accordance with its Government鈥檚 public statements, can achieve lasting peace and reconciliation. But this requires a full and honest acknowledgement of the past and it requires processes, in which all parties take part, to ensure justice, reconciliation and political progress.
鈥淭hat is why the UK will urge the UN Human Rights Council to pass a resolution next week which calls on Sri Lanka to take these steps and implement the recommendations of their own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.鈥�