LLRC extends date for written representations

Friday, 12 November 2010 23:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has extended its time period to accept written representations from public until 31 December 2010, the Government announced.

Under the instructions issued by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government last week extended the mandate of the LLRC by six months.

The commission’s term was to expire on 15 November and it was extended to 15 May 2011 as a large number of witnesses from Sri Lanka and abroad was yet to give evidence before the commission.

The Government said the commission encourages individuals and organisations to send all written representations to the LLRC office on or before 31 December 2010 to provide adequate time for the commission to analyse and synthesise contents and identify key issues that need further study and deliberations, before finalising the report.

The LLRC is currently inviting the persons who have already submitted written representations to appear before it to clarify and elaborate their views and experiences.

In an effort to give the people in the conflict-affected areas to make representations before the commission, the LLRC is conducting sessions in those areas. It is currently holding sessions in the Jaffna Peninsula until 15 November. It has already conducted sessions in Batticaloa, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Vavuniya.

President Rajapaksa in May 2010 appointed the eight-member commission to report on the lessons to be learnt from the events during the period from 21 February 2002 to 19 May 2009. The commission is chaired by the former Attorney General Chitta Ranjan de Silva.

From the evidence the commission has gathered so far, the LLRC has suggested immediate administrative measures to ease the lives of resettled IDPs and all people living in the former war-battered areas.

(www.colombopage.com)