Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, at a news briefing held today (03 August 2007), informed that in a supplementary report titled “Independent Forensic Investigation of the Muttur Massacre,” Dr. Malcolm Dodd, Consultant Senior Forensic Pathologist from Australia, has upheld the Sri Lankan Government Analyst’s opinion in the investigations into the ACF killings in August 2006. Earlier Dr. Dodd had expressed the view that one of the projectiles recovered from one of the victims was of a 5.56 calibre, and not of 7.62 calibre as were the rest, as concluded by the Sri Lankan Government Analyst.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Palitha Kohona pointed out that the comments contained in the initial Dodd Report had been used by several international groups to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka and to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka. Particular reference was made to the June 2006 Birnbaum Report (International Commission of Jurists – Addendum to report: Sri Lanka – The Investigations and Inquest into the killing of seventeen aid workers in Muttur in August 2006).

In the supplementary report from Dr. Dodd communicated through the Australian High Commission in Colombo, and received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, Dr. Dodd has stated that the presence of “a 5.56 calibre projectile can be confidently excluded”. Dr. Dodd further states that he hopes “this supplementary report now settles convincingly the issue of calibre of projectile removed,” and “that all projectiles retrieved from the bodies examined were of the same calibre (7.62).” Dr. Dodd has also refuted the Addendum to the ICJ report, saying “there is no suggestion in my mind of substitution of exhibits, and to this end I would categorically refute the suggestion in the Birnbaum Report”.

Minister Samarasinghe said the Government of Sri Lanka appreciated the assistance provided by the Australian High Commission in Colombo in speedily ensuring that a clarification was obtained from Dr. Dodd in relation to the discrepancy in his report. He also commended Dr. Dodd for his professional integrity in acknowledging the suggestion that gave rise to comments critical of Sri Lankan authorities. A consensus position is now possible and the investigation can progress unimpeded. The Minister further stated that it is now upto those who had used the Dodd Report subjectively to cast aspersions on the integrity on the Government of Sri Lanka and its investigative processes, to retract their statements and in future not to leap to unduly hasty conclusions, when not in possession of the full facts.

Deputy Solicitors General Shavindra Fernando and Yasantha Kodagoda and Deputy Government Analyst W. D. G. S. Gunetilleke were also present at the briefing.

Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Colombo 7.