Indian MPs not blamed by Sri Lanka, says envoy

New Delhi, Mar 15 (ANI): Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam on Thursday said that the Sri Lankan government was investigating the role of factions lobbying for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the step had nothing to do with Indian parliamentarians.

"Concerns expressed by me with regards to the LTTE lobbying groups abroad and elsewhere in the world campaigning in Sri Lanka stand. So, investigations are with regard to the LTTE lobbying groups, nothing to do with the Indian members of Parliament. So, I feel sorry about that and in fact I would like to apologise to members of parliament of Tamil Nadu," said Kariyawasam.

Reportedly, Kariyawasam had commented upon the UN report on violation of human rights in his country and blamed pro-Tamil rebel factions, believed to be active in southern India.

Kariyawasam contended that his statement was taken out of context by the Indian newspapers and he had immense respect for lawmakers from Tamil Nadu.

"The report has on some instances misquoted and on some instances taken out of context. So, that is per my perspective. It is very unfortunate that the headline says something like that and naturally the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs has expressed concerns about the tone and the content. I am very sorry about that because that is not what I meant. I have a lot of respect for the Tamil Nadu parliamentarians," said Kariyawasam.

Colombo had expressed displeasure over Tamil Nadu lawmakers demand of backing the US-led resolution on war crimes.

US and EU-initiated draft resolution on 'Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka' at the ongoing 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to put the probe's recommendations into effect.

Kariyawasam further said that said the Sri Lankan government would act on the findings of the local panel, the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

"Allegations with regard to the human rights violations are there and Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission has been appointed by the President and their report is out and they have proposed a way out as to how we should go about examining these alleged violations. So, that is how the truth will come out," he added. (ANI)