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Minister guarantees protection of Sri Lanka’s ‘war heroes’

A Sri Lankan minister said his government would ensure the safety of Sri Lankan troops, after a UN resolution mandated an accountability mechanism to prosecute for mass atrocities committed during the final stages of the armed conflict.

The Island quoted Sri Lanka’s University Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella as saying “the government would not allow injustice to be caused to the war heroes” and that it would “ensure the safety of the war heroes so that there would be no problem for them”.

He also said the probe would be a “domestic” mechanism.

His comments come as former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa said it was the duty of the government to look after “the interests of our war heroes” in a statement criticising the response to a UN Human Rights Council resolution passed last week.

Also see:

Sri Lankan ministers vow to protect army against war crimes charges (04 Oct 2015)

Triumphant return for president who 'achieved a great victory' at UNHRC, as he pledges 'domestic inquiry' (03 Oct 2015)

‘I saved Rajapaksa from the electric chair’ claims Ranil (03 Oct 2015)

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