Sri Lankan delegation to visit Geneva to answer war crimes allegation

A high-level delegation led by Sri Lankan Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe left for United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday to discuss alleged war crimes committed by the government troops in the final battles with Tamil Tiger rebels last year.

The delegation will discuss the allegations made by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka that the island's Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered Sri Lanka Army to kill Tamil Tiger rebels who came out with white flags during the final phase of the battles in May 2009, said Samarasinghe.

He said they will meet Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during their stay in Geneva.

Fonseka, who led Sri Lankan Army to defeat Tamil Tiger rebels, said in an interview with a local newspaper that the defense secretary ordered the then commander of the Army's 58 division to kill the rebels who surrendered with white flags.

However, Fonseka denied it later and said the newspaper misquoted his comment.

Source: Xinhua