The Embassy and Permanent Mission of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 
19. May 2010
Media
Release
President to initiate
study on post-conflict Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
President
Mahinda Rajapaksa will shortly appoint a Commission to report on the
Lessons
Learnt and Reconciliation with regard to the difficulties and troubled
times
that
The President
is of the view that the situation today provides an opportune moment to
reflect
on the recent conflict phase and the sufferings the country has gone
through,
in keeping with the common aspirations of all people in their resolve
to have
an assured era of peace, harmony and prosperity.
This inquiry
stems from the President's overriding interest in the need for
restorative
justice by the Sri Lankan people. Its findings will seek to take the
Sri Lankan
nation towards the common goals of a multi-ethnic polity, in a spirit
of
cooperation, partnership and friendship, learning the lessons from
recent
history to ensure that there will be no recurrence of such tragic
conflict in
the future.
In assessing
the Lessons Learnt from the recent conflict phase there will be the
search for
any violations of internationally accepted norms of conduct in such
conflict
situations, and the circumstances that may have led to such actions,
and
identify any persons or groups responsible for such acts.
It is also
expected that recommendations would be sought on the nature of
compensation to
be granted to the victims or their dependents who have suffered in this
conflict situation, as well as the institutional, administrative and
welfare
measures already taken in the post-conflict phase, and should be
further taken
in order to effect reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation.
The legislative
and administrative measures that may be necessary in order to prevent
such
situations in the future, and to promote national unity and
reconciliation
among all communities will also be part of the mandate given by the
President.
The Commission
on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation will comprise seven eminent Sri
Lankans
from here and abroad and its Terms of Reference are to be Gazetted in
the next
few days.
