Lanka rejects call for human rights violation probe

Sri Lanka on Sunday rubbished as a "figment of imagination" reports that 20,000 civilians were killed in the final phase of military operation against LTTE and rejected demands for a probe into human rights violation.

Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona said the reported deaths of civilians in the last phase of the military offensive was an "unverified figure".

"It is a figment of imagination of the people who do not have the magnanimity to acknowledge that Sri Lanka has eliminated the terrorist group (LTTE) on its own," he said.

In an apparent reference to Western nations, who are at the forefront seeking probe into human rights violations in Sri Lanka, Kohona said, "They have not conducted any investigation in their (own) invasions in order to counter terrorism".

"The question of probe does not arise," Kohona said.

Amnesty International had on Saturday called for an independent probe after reports in a British newspaper citing confidential UN reports that said over 20,000 civilians were killed in shelling by the Army.

Britain, France and Norway have also demanded investigations into rights violations in the country.

Meanwhile, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the international groups calling for investigation had "ulterior motives".