AFP | Yahoo!! News
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The United National Party (UNP) demanded action over leaked parts of a UN report into alleged atrocities committed by Sri Lankan soldiers as the civil war against Tamil Tiger rebels came to an end in 2009.
The report, commissioned by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, is to be officially released this week.
Details printed in a Sri Lankan newspaper at the weekend said there were "credible" allegations that government forces committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the final push to secure victory over the rebels.
"Sri Lanka's image has been tarnished by this report. The only way to redeem ourselves as a country is to go into the allegations," UNP spokesman Lakshman Kiriella told reporters in Colombo.
"We ask the government to start an immediate internal investigation."
Sri Lanka's administration argues that no civilians were killed during its offensive to beat the Tigers and end decades of warfare on the island.
President Mahinda Rajapakse has asked his supporters to turn this year's May Day rally into a demonstration against any war crimes investigation.
The UN report said allegations of attacks against civilians deserved serious examination and the prosecution of those responsible.
The Tiger rebels, who fought for an independent Tamil homeland, are also accused of using civilians as a human shield and killing those who tried to flee the war zone.
On Wednesday a court hearing into former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who led the campaign against the Tigers, was postponed ahead of the UN report's release.
Fonseka is facing charges over telling a newspaper editor that Rajapakse's brother ordered surrendering Tamil rebel leaders to be shot.
Fonseka quit the army and challenged Rajapakse at January 2010 presidential elections, but after losing the election he was arrested and jailed for 30 months. He faces several court cases.
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