British Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox today said the late Lakshman Kadirgamar believed in a future where Sri Lanka was united and where all citizens were equal.
Dr Fox was delivering the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial lecture at the SLFI.
He said Mr. Kadirgamar believed in an independent judicial system complemented by political reform and underpinned by a free press.
“It was his unswerving belief in these which made him such a compelling and internationally respected political figure.
He would have undoubtedly welcomed the defeat of the LTTE, one of the most brutal terrorist organisations the world has seen.
It was, we must remember, an organisation where children were forced to become soldiers or even suicide bombers and where violence and murder were seen as legitimate tools.
But his commitment to the principles of accountability before the law meant that he was never a man who believed that the ends always justify the means.
He would have expected, as I do, allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by both sides at the end of the conflict to be taken seriously and to be fully investigated and any individuals responsible to be brought fully to account.
He would have expected, as I do, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission to examine all the evidence and make final credible recommendations to the Sri Lankan government.
Those recommendations will play a key role in strengthening the process of accountability and support peace and, perhaps even more importantly, reconciliation as this country moves forward.
I hope and expect that we will see that type of progress when the LLRC reports in November.
ST
