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Truth-seeking mechanism to be based on Gota’s 2021 Prez Commission report

06 Oct 2022

  • Justice Nawaz Commission final report due this month
  • Ali Sabry says mechanism ready by March 2023
BY Mirudhula Thambiah A truth-seeking mechanism is expected to be established before March 2023, based on the final report of the ‘Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) for the Appraisal of the Findings of Previous Commissions and Committees and the Way Forward’ chaired by Supreme Court Judge Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, which was appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2021. The final report of the CoI is expected to be released within this month. This CoI was to investigate, inquire into, and report, or take necessary actions, based on the findings of preceding commissions or committees appointed to investigate incidents of human rights violations, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and other such offences. The first report of the commission was submitted to then-President Rajapaksa in July 2021. Addressing an online forum yesterday (5), Minister of Foreign Affairs M.U.M. Ali Sabry (PC) noted that the final report of the CoI headed by Justice Nawaz is due this month, and that the truth-seeking mechanism will be established based on its outcome.  “Justice Nawaz’s CoI is underway. We are expecting its final report one of these days. Based on that, we would provide some sort of truth-seeking mechanism that is acceptable to the international community. The mechanism will be introduced before March 2023, as we are expecting the commission’s report by this month,” he added. He also noted that the truth-seeking mechanism will be based on similar mechanisms used in South Africa and South America.  “We cannot state the timeframe of the mechanism. The South African mechanism went on for 20 years. This mechanism should continue to function according to the number of cases. However, establishing the truth-seeking mechanism is vital. We agree that those affected should be able to report their issues. We also understand that if there are any criminal offences connected to these cases, these should be taken to courts,” he added.


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