Channel 4 video aims to derail reconciliation in Sri Lanka - Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe

Terrorist sympathizers are still active and are trying to see that reconciliation and economic progress in Sri Lanka is derailed, Sri Lanka High Commissioner for Australia, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe said in an interview with Radio Australia on the latest Channel 4 video. Admiral Samarasinghe said that the Channel 4 video is an attempt to disturb the minds of right-thinking people, through baseless allegations, unfairly criticising the Sri Lankan Government and the Sri Lankan military, who sacrificed enormously to rescue civilians held by terrorists.

Commenting on the timing of the release of the Channel 4 video at a time when the Sri Lankan issue is being discussed at the Human Rights Council, he said the biased approach, the sequence of events and the timing of the release of the video very clearly indicates that they are trying to see that reconciliation and economic progress of Sri Lanka is derailed.

"The Human Rights Commission is a body which will listen to all parties concerned.So let that decision be taken by that body, and the Sri Lankan Government is doing its best to see that justice prevails", the High Commissioner said.

"But the effort of certain members who are trying to pinpoint allegations is deliberate.

I'm confident such efforts will not prevail in a genuine and fair hearing", he said. Asked whether he acknowledged that some atrocities and war crimes may have taken place during the conflict, Admiral Samarasinghe said that he will not acknowledge any of these acts until they are proved.

The Government has ordered the Army Chief to appoint another board to see whether these alleged atrocities have been committed. Sri Lanka has a system in the military on how you follow any atrocity, any wrongdoings or criminal act", he said.

He also added that no military can survive if they don't punish anybody found guilty with authenticated, substantiated evidence.

"Sri Lanka's military discipline and military acts have to take its own course of action. But I emphasise it has to be credible, substantiated evidence, not hearsay which cannot be proved beyond reasonable doubt in a Court of law", he said.

-RW