Britain welcomes UN panel to probe alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka

Britain has welcomed the appointment of a UN-selected panel to investigate into the alleged war crimes during the last seven years of Sri Lanka's conflict and called on the Sri Lankan government to cooperate, an official said here on Thursday.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague, has welcomed the appointment of a team of experts to investigate alleged abuses in Sri Lanka.

"This investigation is an important step in establishing the truth and facilitating reconciliation within Sri Lanka," Hague was quoted as saying by a statement released by the British embassy in Colombo.

"I strongly urge the government of Sri Lanka to cooperate fully with the Office of the High Commissioner and this investigation and to ensure those engaging with the investigation can do so without fear of intimidation or reprisals."

He also insisted that the British government stood ready to assist Sri Lanka in its reconciliation process.

Sri Lanka's government ended a three-decade war with the LTTE in 2009 after annihilating its top leadership. The government has since then initiated legal action against some of its top leaders.However, the government itself has come under fire from the international community for human rights abuses including allegations of war crimes. In March the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution led by U.S. and Britain to investigate the last seven years of Sri Lanka's conflict.

UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay on Wednesday announced the names of three distinguished experts who have agreed to advise and support the team to conduct a comprehensive investigation of alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Martti Ahtisaari, Dame Silvia Cartwright, former governor-general and High Court judge of New Zealand and Asma Jahangir, former president of Pakistan's Supreme Court Bar Association and of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan are the three experts appointed to the team.

The experts will play a supportive and advisory role, providing advice and guidance as well as independent verification throughout the investigation.

The Sri Lankan government has already rejected the proposed investigation and refused to allow them visa to enter the country to carry out the probe.