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          Madam, for the benefit of the Members of this hon. House, kindly permit me to read one or two paras from the Report of the United Nations so that they can understand what has happened during the Civil War in Sri Lanka. I am quoting from the Report of the Panel of Experts of the UN. Specifically, the Panel found credible allegations associated with the final phases of War.

“Between September, 2008 and 19th May, 2009, the Sri Lanka Army advanced its military campaign into the Vanni using large-scale and widespread shelling, causing large numbers of civilian deaths.

This is a news Report which quotes her.
“The victorious Government and the Sinhala community must comprehend that the Tamil community is different from the LTTE. ”    I applaud her for voicing that sentiment. I quote further:
 
“ I too am glad, extremely happy, that the war has ended and terrorism has been defeated. But I cannot blind myself to the fact that although we have won the civil war, we have not even begun to win the battle for peace. ”   It  is a very wise statement by a former President of Sri Lanka who, if I might  mention Madam Speaker,  is a victim of successive acts of terrorism. Her father, a very distinguished leader of Sri Lanka, her husband and others were casualties to terrorism. She herself has lost an eye to an attack on her. For her to say this really gives the great strength to people like us who are students of foreign policy and current affairs. But she is going on.

          After the Civil War was over on 22nd June, 2009, the UN Secretary General appointed a Panel of Experts to visit and study the real position. Specially, the Panel found credible allegations associated with the final stages of war between September, 2008 and 19th May, 2009. I quote: “From February, 2009 onwards, the LTTE started point-blank shooting of civilians who attempted to escape the conflict zone, significantly adding to the death toll in the final stages of the war.  It also fired artillery in proximity  to large groups of IDPs and fired from, or stored military equipment near, IDPs or civilian installations such as hospitals.” The Panel found five core categories of credible allegations against the Government of Sri Lanka. Thus, I quote: “In conclusion, the Panel found credible allegations that comprise five core categories of potential serious violations committed by the Government of Sri Lanka –1. killing of civilians through widespread shelling; 2. shelling of hospitals and humanitarian objects; 3. denial of humanitarian assistance; 4. human rights violations suffered by victims and survivors of the conflict, including both IDPs and suspected LTTE cadre; and 5. human rights violations outside the conflict zone, including against the media and other critics of the Government.”           At the same time, I quote: “The Panel’s determination of credible allegations against the LTTE, associated with the final stages of the war reveal  six core categories of potential serious violations: 1. using civilians as  a human buffer; 2. killing civilians attempting to flee LTTE control; 3. using military  equipment in the proximity of civilians; 4. forced recruitment of children; 5. forced labour; and 6. killing of civilians through suicide attacks.”           These reports reveal the real position of Sri Lanka. Our Government should press the Sri Lankan Government to facilitate the settlement of all these displaced people in the respective places.

 “The end of the long conflict in Sri Lanka has also raised questions relating to the conduct of the War. We have, in this context, noted a report issued by the Panel of Experts constituted by the United Nations Secretary-General on Accountability in Sri Lanka. ”   This is your Statement from where I am quoting. Here, you have not mentioned as to what the findings of the Panel of Experts were. You have simply stated that it was based on the Report of the UN.
          Another aspect that you have mentioned is about the Thirteenth Amendment. I want to quote further from your Statement: