The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) said today that it did not wish to comment on the head of Amnesty International’s personal discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to back calls for an independent international investigation into Sri Lankan war crimes.

Spokesperson for the LLRC Lakshman Wickremesinghe stated that the LLRC had invited Amnesty International to present evidence at the Commission hearings, however they had declined. He further added that the Commission had responded to the various reports by Amnesty making aspersions on the work of the commission and therefore there was nothing more by way of a response to the allegations by the international rights group.

AAP reported that Amnesty secretary-general Salil Shetty told Mr. Rudd during a meeting in Canberra on Tuesday that the Sri Lankan government's own inquiry into the country's civil war was a sham.

"We know what it's going to say because we know that the process was deeply flawed," Mr. Shetty told AAP shortly after his meeting with Mr Rudd.

"We've waited long enough. The time is right to call for an independent investigation."

Mr. Shetty said Mr. Rudd appeared receptive to the idea.

"He understands where we are coming from. I think they're going to actively consider our request," he said. (DS)