On 2nd Anniversary of the end of the war, the need for truth has never been greater

A statement issued by the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice

(May 22, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Today (Wednesday the 18th of May) marks the second anniversary of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. Commenting, Edward Mortimer, Chair of the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice said,

"Over 40,000 people died in the war and, as we now know from the UN report, both sides committed war crimes in the latter stages: shelling hospitals, summarily executing civilians and surrendered soldiers, and deliberately targeting the civilian population. But we are still far from knowing the full truth about those final weeks. Moreover, for many people the ordeal is not yet over. It is thought that up to 30,000 people, including 5,000 children under five, are still being held in military-run displacement camps, whilst 4,000 more are held in "rehabilitation centres" to which the outside world has no access. Those that have returned face a bleak future in shattered towns - 80% of homes were destroyed in some areas.

"In the circumstances it is sickening that, rather than press for a full investigation into the allegations of war crimes, so many national governments are instead choosing to attend a three day seminar in Colombo (31st May to June 2nd), as guests of the Government of Sri Lanka, to see what they can learn from the Sri Lankan Army's brutality.

"On the second anniversary of the end of the war, we do of course rejoice that the war is over. But what happened in the final weeks is a tragedy of the present as well as the past. Only a full investigation and acknowledgement of the truth can make reconciliation possible."