The Commissioners of LLRC

charged with “ reporting whether any person,
group or institution directly or indirectly bears
responsibility in this regard.” (5)
On May 15, President Rajapaksa appointed
the eight member ‘Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation’ Commission to report on lessons
to be learnt from the events in the period,
February 2002 to May 2009, their attendant
concerns and to recommend measures to
ensure that there will be no recurrence of such
a situation, under a six months mandate ending
on November 15. (6)
The memorandum by the President which
was given cabinet approval for the mandating
of the Commission provides that “ it has
been apparent for quite some time to the
Government, that the conflict situation due
to the very brutality and long duration of the
violence perpetrated against Sri Lanka, would
have caused great hurt and anguish in the
minds of the people, that requires endeavours
for rehabilitation and the restoration of
democratic governance complimented by
measures for reconciliation.”
LLRC is deemed to be perceived as “the
Government’s commitment to the promotion
and protection of human rights, as consistently
articulated and affirmed by Sri Lanka at
Sessions of the Human Rights Council. The
President informed the cabinet that in order to
accomplish this task it has become necessary
to set in motion a mechanism which will provide
a historic bridge between the past of a society
characterized by inflicted strife and a future
6 THE WAIT FOR JUSTICE
society founded on the continued recognition
of democracy and peaceful co-existence and
the affording of equal opportunities for all Sri
Lankans as guaranteed by the Constitution.” (7)
It has been further noted that the Commission
has been set in place based on the truth and
reconciliation commission of South Africa
which sort to address the grievances of the
apartheid of that Nation, through the relating
of the “stories” of those suffered and those who
committed acts of violence against others. In
addition to this the commission is also stated to
be influenced by the Iraq Inquiry of the UK.
The six month mandated which was granted on
the 15th of May 2010 extended by another six
months by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapaksa in order to facilitate the Commission
to record more evidence.
The Commission was set up under provisions
of Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry
Act (Chapter 393). Former Attorney General
and LLRC Chairman, Presidents Counsel C.
R. de Silva, stated upon the extension” the
Commission wish to avail an opportunity for
more members of general public to testify
before it.” (8) He further added that “The
independence and impartiality of the Lessons
Learnt and Reconciliation Commission in all
fairness must be judged by the performance of
the commission and not on the basis of preconceived
notions,” (9)
“Despite your ill-founded misgivings about
the outcome of the commission’s work,
the commission will strongly safeguard its
independence and will continue to work towards
fulfilling its mandate,” (10)