Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 8 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 January 2001. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Monday, 15 January 2001 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Sri Lankan Government following the massacre of 25 Tamil youths held in the Bindunuwena Rehabilitation Centre in Sri Lanka on 25th October 2000.

Answer: Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sri Lankan Government following the massacre of 25 Tamil youths held in the Bindunuwena Rehabilitation Centre in Sri Lanka on 25 October 2000. [144752] Mr. Hain: We were shocked to learn of the terrible massacre at the Bindunuwewa Rehabilitation Centre. We have made clear our concerns to the Sri Lankan government and I raised the incident with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister when I visited Colombo in November. We are pleased that the government quickly undertook to conduct a full inquiry into the massacre. We have underlined the need for the inquiry to be independent, swift and transparent. It is essential that the perpetrators of this awful crime are swiftly brought to justice.

Secondary information