GENEVA, 24 March, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet received a mandate to gather crime evidence during Sri Lanka’s long civil war that ended in 2009 with the defeat of the separatist Tamil Tigers causing massive civilian deaths.

In the 26-year conflict, the United Nations believes 80,000-100,000 people died.

The upsurge demanded of the rebels to seek carving out a separate state for the Tamil minority.

The organization, however, has accused both sides of war crimes.

In the final months, the army pinned the Tigers into a tiny strip of northeastern coast where the government says the rebels kept thousands of civilians as human shields, thus the death toll got worsen.

A rights lawyer involved in a civil prosecution against Sri Lanka's current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for alleged war crimes, Yasmin Sooka said, "It is hugely significant for victims."

"It really is recognition that at the domestic level, processes have failed and there is no real hope that victims will access justice," she added.

However, the UNHRC adopted a resolution led by the Britain that gave the Bachelet's office new staff, powers and a $2.8 million budget to look at Sri Lanka's war with a view to future prosecutions. Twenty-two votes were in favor and 11 against that included China and Pakistan, and 14 denied voting including neighboring India.