However, certain media and opposition politicians were fabricating falsehoods that he was acting against the president’s standpoint, Samaraweera told BBC Sandeshaya.

There is no truth to certain newspaper reports that I was in Geneva to fulfill requests not demanded even by extremist groups, he said.

He went onto say that foreign expert assistance was nothing new to Sri Lanka, noting that ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa invited such help when the war crimes allegations were leveled for the first time.

Foreign expertise had also been obtained to probe the murders of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Lalith Athulathmudali, he pointed out, adding that their involvement would give some validity for the investigations.

Samaraweera also said the president’s policy manifesto made it clear a local mechanism would be implemented to probe war crime allegations.

Responding to a remark by Udaya Gammanpila that he would bring in a no-confidence motion against him, the minister said he would welcome it and use it as an opportunity to show confidence in both the government and himself.