Rejecting the report by the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson, Sri Lanka's cabinet spokesperson said on Wednesday that the foreign ministry would going forward answer to the country's defence ministry and the Prison Commissioner General before foreign officials undertook any future similar visits.
The decision came after the members of the government and the president, Maithripala Sirisena questioned why Mr Emmerson was allowed to visit the island and speak to Tamils detainees who the security forces claim are associated with the LTTE.
“The ministers are concerned about Mr Emmerson’s behaviour and the report that included controversial information which we cannot agree with," cabinet spokesperson, Minister Rajitha Senaratne was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.
"It was revealed that the Foreign Affairs Ministry without the knowledge of the defence ministry had permitted him to interview the LTTE suspects. The President has instructed the authorities to formulate a new procedure to regulate and monitor the visits of foreign officials to Sri Lanka."
"Such issues would have to be handled carefully to avoid tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka among the global community," he added.
"Allegations of murder, abductions and torture have been levelled against the armed forces personnel and it was the government’s responsibility to inquire into them, based on the law of the land and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which Sri Lanka was a signatory to."
“The government cannot abdicate this responsibility to probe these allegations. It is our responsibility to do justice to the victims, which is why the government released the Mahanama Report on the killing at Katunayaka during police firing."