Addressing the media at a special briefing at the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Thursday evening (17), Minister Samaraweera said he planned to have the consultation processes on the domestic inquiry mechanism underway by the second week of October, upon their return from partaking in the UN General Assembly. He added that the government plans to conclude the proposed processes within 18 months.

The Foreign Minister said international experts could play a role in technical and advisory capacities in this domestic mechanism. He blamed the previous government of Mahinda Rajapaksa for tarnishing the credibility of the judiciary.

Minister Samaraweera mentioned that the consensus resolution on Sri Lanka will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council during the ongoing 30th session on September 24th or 25th and Sri Lanka will be discussed at the Council on September 30th. He said that he expects wide support in the Council for the resolution and following that the Government will begin the domestic process to address the human rights concerns.