WASHINGTON: Sri Lanka’s foreign minister says it remains open to foreign participation in a special court to examine allegations of war crimes in the island nation’s 26-year civil war.

A UN resolution calls for the support of foreign judges, lawyers and investigators. But Sri Lanka’s president said last month the nation’s own judiciary is up to the task.

Yet Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that was only the president’s opinion and that the credibility of the Sri Lankan judiciary had been undermined under the previous government.

He said consultations are under way, and the participation of foreign judges, forensic experts, investigators, and prosecutors is under consideration.

A UN report says there are strong indications both government soldiers and rebels committed war crimes during the war that ended in 2009.