UN expert seeks probe into Lankan video footage

A Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat statement on Wednesday had said the video clip was 8220;absolutely false8221;. The government will also seek to pursue remedies available with regard to the 8220;distortion of truth8221;,it had said.

Alston said the denial by Colombo makes it all the more necessary to set up an independent investigation. 8220;If the Government8217;s position is validated as a result of an inquiry,the international community can rest easy and the Government will have been vindicated,8221; he said.

8220;There is no justification for not moving ahead with such an investigation in view of the Government8217;s confidence that such atrocities were never perpetrated by its armed forces.8221;

At the same time he regretted that Colombo so far had not yet issued him an invitation to make an official visit to Sri Lanka,despite a number of requests in recent years.

Alston reports to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and to the General Assembly and he serves in an independent and unpaid capacity.