COLOMBO: Germany is ready to help Sri Lanka investigate alleged atrocities during its civil war, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Tuesday.

Steinmeier made the announcement after talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mangala Samaraweera, in Colombo.

Last week, the United Nations human rights chief recommended that Sri Lanka set up a special hybrid court that would include foreign judges and investigators to examine the alleged atrocities, saying Sri Lanka’s own courts are not yet ready to carry out a fair judicial process.

Samaraweera said then that the country wants to conduct its own investigation but would accept some outside technical support. He said it would take about 18 months to create the needed institutions, including a truth and reconciliation commission. Steinmeier said he and Samaraweera discussed the issue in their talks Tuesday.

He said he believes “there will have to be international assistance,” but the extent should be deliberated at the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Samaraweera said Sri Lanka has “indicated to the U.N. and other international partners that we always welcome international assistance.”