The Daily Mirror learns that French Ambassador Ms. Christine Robichon met the Attorney General to discuss the present status of investigations despite the lapse of six years since the incident happened.
These aid workers were killed during the initial stage of the war after the closure of Mavil Aru sluice gates by the LTTE. The Ambassador has reportedly asked numerous questions from the Department as to what happened to the investigations.
Earlier, former Attorney General Mohan Peiris assured the international community during an interactive session with representatives of countries interested in the Sri Lanka issue in Geneva in February that the cases into the killing of five students in Trincomalee and 17 aid workers in Mutur would be reopened.
The Amnesty International (AI) was particularly interested to know as to what happened to the investigations. The AI also asked why the report of the presidential commission appointed to look into this case was not publicized.
The 17 workers were found dead in their aid agency office on August 6, 2006 in Muttur at a time when pitched battles were fought between the military and the LTTE. In addition to the AI, representatives of the Tamil diaspora have also raised the issue in Geneva during side events. (Kelum Bandara)
DM