Minister says IIGEP's sudden departure is 'suspicious'

Addressing media in Colombo, minister in charge of human rights said he was “puzzled” that the International Independent Group Eminent Persons (IIGEP) has decided to leave Sri Lanka even before their term ends.

It is highly “suspicious” that the IIGEP always decided to publish their interim report on the proceedings while sessions of the UN human rights body were underway, the minister added.

Witness protection

The chairman of the IIGEP, former Chief Justice of India BN Bhagwati, said that the panel was seriously concerned over the involvement of officials from Attorney General (AG) department at the CoI proceedings.

We cannot allow a group who only came to Sri Lanka for a year to sling mud on the AG department Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe

“Our concern also relate to the continuing lack of an effective victim and witness protection mechanism,” he told journalists at a separate press briefing in Colombo.

The IIGEP also raised concern that adequate financial support was not provided to the CoI and the lack of support from the government institutions.

AG CR de Silva and Deputy AGs Yasantha Kodagoda and Shavindra Fernando also took part in the government press briefing.

'No authoty' for AG

The AG department was only assisting the inquiry, AG CR de Silva said, on the request of the CoI.

“We do not have any authority over the CoI’s inquiries,” he told journalists.

	Killing of former FM is among the CoI's investigations

Minister Samarasinghe said the AG department, which was established over 150 years ago, is a “very respectable institution” in Sri Lanka.

“We cannot allow a group who only came to Sri Lanka for a year to sling mud on the AG department,” Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said.

He added that the AG department has already served notice against 1000 police and armed force personnel.

However, the IIGEP was very critical of the involvement of the AG department.

Our concern also relate to the continuing lack of an effective victim and witness protection mechanism Justice BN Bhagwati

The department should not intervene, justice Bhagwati said, in a CoI which is inquiring into excesses both by the LTTE and by the army.

The Presidential Commission was appointed by President Rajapaksa to investigate into 15 incidents of serious human rights violations including the killing of 17 aid workers in Muttur.

Assassinations of then foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, and parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham are, among others, part of the CoI’s inquiries.

Commission chairman, retired judge Nissanka Udalagama, has earlier voiced concern over lack of support from the government.