The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is considering a submission that Sri Lanka's high commissioner to Australia, former navy Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, was involved in war crimes.
Fairfax reports the submission, from the International Commission of Jurists' Australian section, has compiled what a source says is direct and credible evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Admiral Samarasinghe has been linked to shelling from naval ships which fired directly on unarmed civilians as they fled when government forces moved on Tamil Tigers in the bloody closing stages of the civil war.
The source says witnesses now living in Australia can attest to the alleged crimes.
Admiral Samarasinghe, commander of the Sri Lankan navy's eastern and then northern areas, as well as naval chief of staff during the final years of the country's civil war, denies any illegal behaviour.
The submission says there is no evidence Admiral Samarasinghe was involved in shelling, or gave any direct orders, but the submission before the AFP states military superiors hold a responsibility for the actions of those under their command.
Admiral Samarasinghe told Fairfax that all of his and the navy's actions during the conflict were legal.
"There is no truth whatsoever of allegations of misconduct or illegal behaviour," he said.
"The Sri Lanka Navy did not fire at civilians during any stage and all action was taken to save the lives of civilians from clutches of terrorists."
AAP
