The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission by including provisions in the South African model.
The combined Cabinet paper was presented by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism in Sri Lanka taking into account the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms and the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited South Africa at the invitation of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation in South Africa in order to conduct a preliminary study on South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
During that visit, they held discussions with the South African President, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and other heads of the South African government.
Accordingly, based on the information received during the visit of South Africa, both Ministers have proposed to initiate a Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism which received the approval of the Cabinet.