‘Lanka will not agree to war crimes probe’

The Sri Lankan government yesterday said that while it will investigate certain crimes which took place during the war between Tamil Tiger rebels and the military, it will not agree to a war crimes probe.Government spokesman and Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Rajitha Senaratne told reporters in the northern town of Jaffna that if there is a war crimes probe then the Tamil Tigers, also known as the LTTE, must also be investigated, Xinhua reports.“Who do we investigate in the LTTE? Are there any leaders? We will go for a good settlement,” the minister said.He said that the main objective of the government is to ensure the final settlement following 30 years of war, gives equal status to all Sri Lankans.The minister also said that powers will be devolved to the provinces to ensure the people in the respective areas look after the development of the areas.Sri Lanka defeated the Tamil Tigers in May 2009 after 30 years of war but the military has been accused of committing war crimes during the finales stages of the war.The government has initiated a reconciliation process to address the main causes behind the conflict and ensure non-recurrence.