The Embassy of the Netherlands welcomes the announcement of the President of Sri Lanka to appoint a Commission of Inquiry into allegations of human rights violations and the involvement of an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons.

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On the request of Government of Sri Lanka the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands nominated Prof. Dr. Cornelis Fasseur for the position of Eminent Person in the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons. Prof. Dr. Cornelis Fasseur has a vast experience in the field of security and law.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands would like to underline that the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry and the Independent Group of Eminent Persons is an important first step in addressing impunity and reducing the recent escalation of violence in Sri Lanka. In order to effectively prevent human rights violations in the longer term the initiative should ultimately be part of a broader process of continued international support to the investigation of human rights abuses.