Sri Lanka’s foreign minister stressed that his government would lead any investigation of violations of international humanitarian law and that Sri Lanka has an "omnidirectional foreign policy", in an interview with Nikkei Asian Review published on Friday.

Mangala Samaraweera stated that whilst international technical assistance may be accepted, the process to investigate mass atrocities on the island will be "a unique Sri Lankan mechanism".

Tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were massacred during the final phases of the armed conflict, with the United Nations having commissioned an investigation into reports of mass atrocities that occurred.

Stating that Sri Lanka’s parliament would be dissolved in the coming weeks, Mr Samarawera said that the new government "will be able to work out a durable political solution which will address the grievances of the different communities of Sri Lanka and work out the new contours of a nation united in its diversity".

He also said that much progress had been made, claiming land taken over by the military in the North-East "has returned to the people".

Speaking on Sri Lanka’s foreign relations the minister stated that his government had an “omnidirectional foreign policy" and was “not pro-India but pro-Sri Lanka". He also expressed his government’s desire to maintain an "excellent relationship" with China.

"We don't want to confine ourselves to one power bloc," added the minister, saying foreign policy is not a "zero-sum game".

See more from NAR here .

Also see our earlier posts:

Domestic mechanism will ‘salvage the good name of armed forces’ - Sri Lankan FM (07 May 2015)

Credible domestic inquiry “important to clear name of our troops” – Foreign Minister (28 Apr 2015)