International support to probe disappearances, killings
[Tuesday, November 7, 2006 - 9.30 GMT]

The Government is to get international support to probe the recent spate of disappearances, killings and abductions.

A special committee has been set up to inquire incidents of abductions, murders and disappearances on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. An international monitoring team will help the committee.

The 11-member committee will be headed by an Indian Supreme Court judge and the work of the Committee will be observed by a panel of international experts. The Government intends to invite experts from the US, Canada, UK, Japan, Australia and EU to act as observers for the committee.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given legal effect to the Committee. The Committee will initially investigate 15 cases including the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the assassination of Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham, the killing of five youths in Trincomalee, the killing of 17 relief workers in Muttur, the murder of Deputy Director
General of Peace Secretariat Kethesh Loganathan, the killing of 13 persons in Kayts, the deaths of 51 persons in Sencholai and deathsof 98 Security Force personnel in Habarana.

"The idea of the whole exercise is to get the experience and the insights of globally respected experts in our investigations", Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is quoted as saying.

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Last Updated Date: November 7, 2006 - 9.00 GMT