Sri Lanka, March 28 -- During a recent parliamentary debate, Minister of Religious Affairs and Buddha Sasana, Sunil Senavi, emphasised the need for Sri Lanka to establish a 'Truth and Forgiving' Commission. He further referenced the views of former South African President Nelson Mandela, highlighting the importance of achieving national unity.

The Minister's statement evoked controversy, primarily because of the term 'forgiving' as many argued that it is the right of the victim to know the truth along with the legal framework which determines further punitive action. While restorative justice is important, the first step should be fostering both truth-telling and truth-seeking.

Dr. Dayani Panagoda, a Policy specialist, Strategist, and P...