Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Under Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, presenting her report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva welcomed the statement made by the Sri Lanka delegation and commended the positive steps taken by the Government.

She highlighted in particular the adoption of a policy of zero tolerance with regard to recruitment of children, the commitment in relation to the Security Council Resolution 1612 and the action taken to set up a committee to investigate allegations of comlicity against certain elements of the security forces in alleged abductions and recruitment of children by the LTTE 'break away' group, the 'Karuna Faction'.

Ms. Coomaraswamy's report included her findings from her field visits to countries undergoing conflict. With regard to the findings of her Special Advisor Alan Rock during his visit to Sri Lanka in November 2006. She stated, 'he was able to access all areas of the country including the North and East in order to ascertain the ground situation and did so with the full cooperation of the Sri Lankan Government.'

She also pointed out that it was unfortunate that the LTTE did not commit to the full release of children under the age of 18 yaers and noted that this was in contravention to applicable national and international law.

Sri Lanka welcomed this clear assertion that the LTTE was subject to Sri Lankan law which clearly refutes the misconception by some elements in the international community that the LTTE could legislate.