"One should be extemely sceptical of govt. statements quoting IIGEP members"

The panel left Sri Lanka last month accusing the government of hindering the investigations of a probe on serious human rights violations.

The Sri Lanka government on Monday said it has received a letter from the head of the expert panel retracting earlier statements accusing the government.

No political will

Human Rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said Justice PN Bhagwati has also praised the work of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

The CoI was appointed by President Rajapaksa to investigate 15 cases of serious rights violations including the killing of 17 aid workers in Muttur.

Assassinations of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and Joseph Pararajasingham, MP, are among the investigations of CoI.

I think you or anybody else should be treating with extreme scepticism any representation by the government of Sri Lanka what any of us says Sir Nigel Rodney

The head of International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) has written to the President saying that he does not stand by the accusation of government “lacking political will” to investigate the abuses.

However, Sir Nigel Rodley, a member of the IIGEP, told BBC Sandeshaya that the panel stood by the statement issued after discussions held in February.

“I think you or anybody else should be treating with extreme scepticism any representation by the government of Sri Lanka what any of us says,” he said.

'Exceeded mandate'

Mr. Bhagwati has also praised the work of the CoI headed by retired judge Nissanka Udalagama, Minister Samarasinghe told journalists in Colombo.

Sir Nigel Rodley, a Professor of Law at Essex University, was the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture from 1993 to 2001.

I am not prepared to comment on anything the government of Sri Lanka quotes what Mr. Bhagwati says. When I see the letter I would be willing to comment Sir Nigel Rodney

The IIGEP member refused to comment on the reported letter sent by former Indian Chief Justice, PN Bhagwati, to President Rajapaksa.

“I am not prepared to comment on anything the government of Sri Lanka quotes what Mr. Bhagwati says. When I see the letter I would be willing to comment,” he told BBC Sinhala.com.

The panel is not aware of any letter sent to President Rajapaksa by their president, he added.

Categorically rejecting the government’s accusations that the IIGEP “exceeded their mandate”, Sir Nigel Rodley said the panel worked within the parameters of the mandate given by Sri Lanka authorities.