Lanka says no to international probe into war crimes

Sri Lanka on Wednesday rejected the demand for an independent probe into war crimes during the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam conflict, saying it has no "intention to allow an international policeman".

In an obvious reference to international calls for investigation into alleged rights abuses during the final phase of the conflict, Lankan External Affairs Minister G L Peiris said local or international investigations cannot be allowed.

"We are a nation with pride. We will not allow anybody to interfere here. We have no intention to allow an international policeman looking at our problems. We do not want an international policeman. We have the capability and the will to solve our own problems," he said.

Lanka's rights record has come under international scrutiny ever since United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's special panel advocated an independent inquiry into alleged rights abuses.

Peiris' parliamentary comments came ahead of Wednesday's seventeenth round of talks between the government and the main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance.

"Today we discussed land matters and they will be continued at the next rounds", Suresh Premachandran, a TNA participant at the talks said.

The TNA has been pressing for land and police powers to provincial councils created in 1987 as part of the India-Sri Lanka accord of that year.

The government aims to look for a solution based on devolution to the Tamil minority through the parallel parliamentary select committee process which is yet to get underway.