Riya Mala 
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chair, Dr Marcus Brand, says he is determined that the four commissioners will assist in achieving the goals of the TRC.
Dr Brand said he was aware that leading the efforts would not be easy, but he was familiar with the work of similar Truth and Reconciliation Commissions held previously, that were set up for different reasons around the world over the past decades.
He said some commissions had failed to build trust, provide reconciliation and meet expectations.
Dr Brand added that one crucial element for the process to succeed was strong political leadership and commitment to make it happen.
“And also buy-in from the general public, and these two things are, of course, related to each other. From everything I have seen so far, I have, for example, had a conversation with the Prime Minister yesterday, but we’ve also had a few conversations among the commissioners. We have had very strong leadership from the Minister of Women, Children, and Social Protection, Honorable Sashi Kiran, who has led much of the preparatory work, and from all these things, I can tell that there is, at the moment, very strong political leadership.”
Dr Brand added that the TRC was being held to facilitate open and free engagement in truth-telling in order to promote reconciliation and healing.
