Govt. allocates Rs.18mn to LLRC

The government has allocated Rs. 18 million to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to continue its work given the extended mandate of six months in view of the large number of persons from Sri Lanka and abroad still to give evidence before it.

The LLRC is currently obtaining views and accounts of the people in Trincomalee who have been affected by the conflict. It also conducted hearings in the North where a large number of representations were made.

The Commission conducts its regular hearings at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Colombo 7.

It is in the process of gathering evidence to prepare a report on the conflict issue and how to overcome such situations in future. The Commission is to submit its report by 15 May, 2011.

The government has told parliament that while Rs. 18 million was allocated to the LLRC, further allocations would be made if the necessity arises.

Meanwhile, Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has said that the time provided for the Commission to conclude its work could be extended if needed.

Gunawardena had made this comment in response to a question posed by the opposition United National Party parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayaka.

President Rajapaksa in May 2010 appointed the Commission to report on the lessons to be learnt from the events during the period from 21st February 2002 to 19th May 2009. The Commission is chaired by the former Attorney General Chitta Ranjan de Silva. (www.info.gov.lk)