Sri Lanka businesses warn against economic sanctions

Sep 02, 2011 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's large trade have criticized a report by a UN panel alleging human rights abuses in a civil war that ended in 2009, and warned against international economic sanctions. The panel called for probes in to allegations of war crimes by both sides of the conflict in the latter stages of a 30-year war between the state and the Tamil Tiger separatists.

The report was issued by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka and the Joint Apparel Association Forum, based in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.

The chambers said the Panel of Experts’ Advisory Report to the UN Secretary General on the final stage of the 30-year civil war that ended in May 2009 was biased, over-stepped its mandate and lacked credibility.

The business chambers said they were concerned about the contents of the advisory of the United Nations panel of experts saying it may impact on inter-ethnic confidence building and national reconciliation.

The Sri Lanka's ruling administration has also rejected the report by the UN panel of experts but it has been backed by the Tamil National Alliance, a minority p