Sri Lanka's minister for law and order, Sagala Ratnayaka on Thursday attempted to explain the government's failure to investigate and prosecute the killing of five Tamil students by Special Task Force officers, by claiming they were unable to proceed as the main witness was abroad.
Responding to a tweet by the US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap calling for justice for the massacre, Mr Ratnayaka tweeted,
"We could not proceed with the case as the main witness was overseas and was not in a position to support proceedings. The case is now progressing as new reforms have allowed the use of Skype evidence."
His tweet has been criticised by civil society activists who have blamed a lack of political will as the reason for the failure to investigate and prosecute 12 years on from the killing.