SL would launch its own probe if necessary on LLRC findings

Speaking to local editors, Rajapaksa was seeking to emphasise the seriousness with which his government treated the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). He said if necessary the government would conduct its own investigation on the findings of the LLRC appointed by him to learn lessons from the destructive ethnic separatist campaign spanning over decades.

He, however, did not elaborate the nature of investigations he was referring to. International rights groups have raised doubts on the LLRC, saying it lacked impetus and would have too little impact. The president said the LLRC would continue its proceedings irrespective of what comes out in the report by the UN secretary general's advisory panel on Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa said that it was non-binding on Sri Lanka as it was merely a panel to advise Ban Ki-moon.

Meanwhile, the LLRC said that it resumed its public sittings today in the eastern district of Ampara. The sittings would move to south eastern town of Moneragala tomorrow.
"We had large numbers of interested people turning up to give evidence at Ampara," LLRC spokesman Lakshman Wickramasinghe said.