Sri Lanka pledges war crimes probe

Sri Lanka hopes to set up a domestic inquiry within a month into atrocities from the civil war, President Maithripala Sirisena has told the BBC.

He said UN investigators would not take part in the inquiry, but their views would be taken into account.

Mr Sirisena's predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa consistently refused any co-operation with the UN.

The army and Tamil Tiger rebels were both accused of atrocities in the 26-year war, which ended in 2009.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 people are estimated to have died in the conflict.

In the final months, many thousands of Tamil civilians are thought to have been killed in government shelling.

Sirisena told BBC Sinhala's Saroj Pathirana that an investigative committee would work "efficiently, in a balanced, legal and impartial manner".

When asked if UN investigators would be involved, the president said: "We are ready to get advice and their opinions for the inquiry, but I don't think we need any outsiders because we have all the sources for this."

The UN agreed last month to delay its long-awaited report into alleged war crimes, saying the new government was more willing to co-operate than the previous administration.

Sirisena came to power in January, inflicting a surprise defeat on former ally Rajapaksa.

Both men were in government during the bloody finale of the war, but fell out when Sirisena defected.

Parliamentary elections take place later this year, and Rajapaksa could return as prime minister.

Analysts say Sirisena's refusal to allow UN investigators to be involved may be designed to appeal to Sinhalese voters, who are largely opposed to any international inquiry.

Sirisena also received large numbers of votes from Tamils and Muslims in January's election victory.