Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary has issued a detailed rejection of the concerns raised by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) regarding the integrity and credibility of the judicial proceedings and justice system
of Sri Lanka vis-à-vis the killing of 17 Aid workers in Muttur in August 2006.

Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona has outlined the measures the government had adopted to ensure that the inquiry into these killings conformed to the highest international standards.

Here is a statement issued on this by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva on

June, 29, 2007

"The International Commission of Jurist’s report has raised concerns regarding the integrity and credibility of the judicial proceedings and the justice system in Sri Lanka. The Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Dr. Palitha Kohona outlined the measure that the government had adopted to ensure that the inquiry conformed to the highest international standards.

Change of Magistrate – The Magistrate in Muttur was changed because he himself     was a victim and observed the movements of various groups in the
area. Moreover, he had sought refuge in a police bunker and his belongings were taken away by the LTTE. He has been identified as a potential witness and had given evidence before the Commission of Inquiry today.

Tampering of Evidence – The Foreign Secretary categorically dismissed the claim that the evidence in the case has been tampered with. The ICJ report
states that a bullet recovered from one of the exhumes of one of the slain staff had been substituted. Dr. Malcolm Dodd, an Australian, forensic pathologist brought in last year, identified one bullet as 5.56mm which was different from other 7.2mm, whereas the Government Analyst’s report which was prepared by a ballistic expert maintained that all bullets were of
7.2mm. The discrepancy with regard to the description of the bullet could have arisen because the two experts reached different conclusions. It has been found that there are differences in size, metal and shape between these bullets. It was observed that the report of the Government Analyst is the consolidated position of the Government. However, the report of the Government Analyst has been sent to Australia for further examination by ballistic experts. The Australian High Commission is making arrangements for a meeting between the Government and Australian experts in order to allay this confusion.

Further, it was pointed out that the photographs of the exhumed bodies were taken in front of the Australian expert and sent to the Government Analyst through the Magistrate.

These photographs are still available and a comparison can be made to as whether they were tampered.

The Foreign Secretary explained that the Commission of Inquiry having started its work five months ago has made steady progress in its work, whereas in places like the former Yugoslavia and Cambodia it had taken many
years. The Attorney General has decided to institute court proceedings for two cases namely the killing of five school children in Vavuniya and the assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgarmar.

A copy of the presentation made by the Attorney General’s Department on 27 June 2007 on this matter is attached herewith."