Sri Lanka enacts witness protection law

Sri Lanka has adopted a witness protection law ahead of an investigation into suspected human rights abuses during the war.

Under the law passed by the Sri Lankan parliament late on Thursday, the government will set up safe houses for witnesses giving testimony to the inquiry commission.”This will allow people to give evidence and participate in the domestic probe,” Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ajith Perera said.

“The new law will add credibility to the domestic probe,” a foreign ministry official said.