Sri Lanka to appoint panel to probe civil war

Colombo, Jan 23: Sri Lanka's new government will appoint an independent commission to probe the last stages of the country's civil war that ended in 2009, a minister said Friday. Cabinet spokesperson and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told Xinhua that the commission will consist of professionals who would launch a full inquiry into the alleged human rights violations during the last months of the country's war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He said discussions with all political party leaders would also be held regarding the appointment of the commission. "We will consult other party leaders as well. The commission will comprise of professionals who are capable of conducting the inquiry. We will appoint the commission soon," Senaratne said. Following the Jan 8 presidential election, newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena's government pledged to investigate the alleged human rights violations during the final stages of the civil war.