Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has extended the term of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) by a further period of six months on the ground that a large number of persons from Sri Lanka and abroad still to give evidence before it.The eight member commission was appointed by the Sri Lankan President in May 2010 to look into incidents from the time of ceasefire between the Government and the LTTE in 2002 till the end of war in May 2009.The Commission so far has held public hearings in Colombo and in the conflict affected areas of Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Kilinochchi. This included field visits to meet people directly affected by the conflict.AIR correspondent Kanchan reports from Colombo that hopes of an early report by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, for the time being has receded into background with the Government extending its term by another six months.It is meant among other things to recommend measures for reconciliation on the ethnic conflict in the island nation. The government says that by extending the term it is giving an opportunity to many others who are interested in deposing before it.The international human rights organizations have been critical of it and only last month had declined an invitation by the Commission (LLRC) to appear before it on the plea that it fails to meet basic standards and is fatally flawed in structure and practice.Next week the Commission will hold its hearing in Tamil dominated Jaffna for the first time. So far nearly 100 individuals including political activists, social workers, academia, members of clergy, those engaged in conflict resolution and representatives from non-governmental organizations have deposed before the Commission.The Commission has already submitted an interim communication recommending administrative means to resolve some of the pressing grievances of the people affected by the conflict. Government has appointed an advisory group to implement the suggestions.