A Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) is appointed to investigate alleged human rights violations.

Eight national Commissioners were formally announced and mandated to obtain information, investigate and inquire into alleged serious violations of human rights arising since the 1st of August, 2005, that also included 16 specific cases and the examination of prior investigations into these cases.

The President had initially intimated (on 4 September 2006) that there would be an international, independent Commission to probe alleged abductions, disappearances and extra judicial killings. On 6 September, the President instead called for an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) to act as observers of investigations conducted by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Serious Human Rights Violations. The IIGEP was also expected to comment on the Commission’s compliance with international norms and standards and propose correctional action.

Sources
UN rights chief hails [probe into extrajudicial killings but voices concerns, UN News Centre, 7 November 2007; Amnesty International urges effective action to end impunity, Amnesty International, 1 December 2006. Strengthen national institutions to deal with human rights violations and overcome national regression, Media statement, National Peace Council, 3 July 2007.

Quotations

"It will be critically important for the Commission to establish not only individual responsibility for crimes, but the broader patterns and context in which they occur.” High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour.

"Amnesty International recognises that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka has been characterized by decades of impunity for perpetrators of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. In this regard, the creation of a Commission of Inquiry could be a timely and potentially valuable undertaking. However, the organisation is concerned that the Government of Sri Lanka has cut too many corners in establishing its currentnational Commission of Inquiry and the accompanying International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP)." Amnesty International, 1 December 2006.

The 16 cases
Case No. 1: Assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka.
Case No. 2: Killing of 17 aid workers of the international non-governmental organisation Action Contra La Faim in early August 2006.
Case No. 3: Alleged execution of Muslim villagers in Muttur in early August 2006 and the execution at Welikanda of 14 persons from Muttur who were being transported in ambulances.
Case No. 4: Assassination of Joseph Pararajasingham, Member of Parliament on 25 December 2005.
Case No. 5: Killing of 5 youths in Trincomalee on or about 2 January 2006.
Case No. 6: Assassination of Ketheesh Loganathan, Deputy Director General of the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat (SCOPP) on 12 August 2006.
Case No. 7: Death of 51 persons in Naddalamottankulam (Sencholai) in August 2006.
Case No. 8: Disappearance of Rev. Nihal Jim Brown of Philip Neri's Church at Allaipidi on 28 August 2006.
Case No. 9: Killing of 5 fishermen and another at Pesalai beach and at the Pesalai Church on 17 June 2006.
Case No. 10: Killing of thirteen 13 persons in Kayts police area on 13 May 2006.
Case No. 11: Killing of 10 Muslim villagers at Radella in Pottuvil police area on 17 September 2006.
Case No. 12: Killing of 68 persons at Kebithigollewa on 15 June 2006.
Case No. 13: Incident relating to the finding of 5 headless bodies in Avissawella on 29 April 2006.
Case No. 14: Killing of 13 persons at Welikanda on 29 May 2005.
Case No. 15: Killing of 98 security forces personnel in Digampathana, Sigiriya, on 16 October 2006.
Case No. 16: Assassination of Nadarajah Raviraj, Member of Parliament on 10 November 2006.

Related events
4 August 2006
11 June 2007
25 June 2007
6 March 2008