Sri Lanka will implement the LLRC recommendations on human rights, says Prof Peiris

Foreign Minister GL Peiris' pledge in Pretoria comes as Sri Lanka government is trying hard to avoid a US-sponsored resolution seeking the implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission being passed in Geneva.

Minister Peiris has told South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, that Sri Lanka plans to implement the LLRC recommendations on human rights, and post-conflict reconstruction and nation-building.

Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, for its part, has stressed the need for a peaceful and sustainable political solution.

'Western conspiracy'

Prof Peiris is currently on a visit to African countries, in an apparent attempt to canvass support from the African nations against the US-sponsored resolution at the UN human Rights Council.

Both sides agreed on the need to grasp the opportunity to finally settle the conflict in Sri Lanka, including the setting up of an impartial, inclusive and transparent mechanism to deal decisively with questions of accountability and justice   Statement issued by the South African government

"Both sides agreed on the need to grasp the opportunity to finally settle the conflict in Sri Lanka, including the speedy implementation of the LLRC Report, as well as the setting up of an impartial, inclusive and transparent mechanism to deal decisively with questions of accountability and justice," a statement issued by the South African government on said.

South Africa also said that it is "ready to assist and share" its experience with regard to Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which tried to heal scars of decades of violence against apartheid regime.

"South Africa continues to encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the LLRC Report in the same spirit as South Africa implemented the TRC processes," it said.

The Sri Lanka government earlier organised a day of protests describing moves by the West to pass a resolution at the UNHRC as a “conspiracy” against the Rajapaksa administration.