Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told the media yesterday (23) the situation had worsened during the Rajapaksa regime due to the continuous rejection of such reports.

Why did he address the UN General Assembly every year? He should have refused to do so too, said the minister.

When a journalist referred to Rajapaksa’s claim in a statement he had agreed with UN chief Ban ki Moon only to look into the grievances, and not war crimes charges, Senaratne said this situation had arisen due to the ex-government’s going against its promise to investigate the allegations.

He also said the word hybrid court was a creation by the media, and that the court to be established to investigate the charges would comprise local judges only.

The now published UNHRC report is an interim report, and powerful nations have agreed to drop the suggestion for a hybrid court from the final report, he added.