Lessons learnt Commission commenced work from Kadirgamar Institute
The Commission on "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation"
which will function from the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Colombo
has already taken steps to commence initial work, in keeping with the
wide mandate issued to them to ensure independent functioning.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with the Members of
the Commission on "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation" at Temple Trees
yesterday evening (June 04). It would be recalled that the President
himself presented the Cabinet Memorandum for the establishment of the
Commission which was then approved by the Cabinet of Ministers at their
meeting on May 12, 2010.
The President recalled that on the 5th of June 2009,
less that a month after the end of the conflict situation, the Permanent
Representative of Sri Lanka in his remarks at the interactive briefing
of the UN Security Council had informed that "I have been advised to
state that the Government is in the process of initiating a domestic
mechanism for fact finding and reconciliation." President Rajapaksa
expressed the view that the current situation of post-conflict stability
in the country, as well as, the strong mandate received by the
Government at the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, makes it
especially opportune for the taking of the necessary steps to implement
the intent conveyed by the Permanent Representative last year.
The attention of the Commissioners was drawn to the
vigorous programme of reconstruction and development as well as of the
restoration of democracy, now being implemented in the conflict affected
areas. At the same time, the almost three decade long situation of
conflict and its widespread attendant violence would have caused great
hurt to the people of Sri Lanka. The Commission has therefore, the
President said, the responsibility of acting in a forward looking
manner, through focus on restorative justice designed to further
strengthen national amity. The President expressed his strong confidence
that the Commissioners who have been selected on their integrity and
eminence would utilize their wide ranging mandate to fulfill this
objective, while always safeguarding the dignity of Sri Lanka.
The Commissioners were also briefed on the financial,
organizational; and secretarial support already put in place, to enable
the Commission to commence functioning forthwith, and were told the
premises of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International
Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo, will be made available for
its work.
The Commissioners in turn expressed their appreciation
to the President, for the trust reposed in them. They welcomed the
provision of the necessary organizational support and informed that they
had already taken steps to commence work.
The Chairman of the Commission the Hon. C. R de Silva
Esq, and Commission Members Mr. HMGS Palihakkara, Mrs. Manohari
Ramanathan, Mr. Maxwell Paranagama and Mr. Chandirapal Chanmugam were
present at the meeting with the President. The officials in present
included the Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga and the
Secretary, External Affairs Mr. Romesh Jayasinghe.
Courtesy : PRIU | 
