The US Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution that called on the government of Sri Lanka, the international community and the United Nations to set up an independent mechanism to look into reports of alleged war crimes, especially during the last stages of the war. The US embassy in Colombo, however , clarified that it is a non – binding resolution. However, it reflects the concern of the American law makers on the issue of alleged war crimes accountability.The Resolution was presented by Senator Robert Casey of Pennsylvania and passed unanimously by the Senate. The resolution calls on ‘the Government of Sri Lanka, the international community, and the United Nations to establish an independent international accountability mechanism to look into reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations committed by both sides during and after the war in Sri Lanka and to make recommendations regarding accountability.’ Responding to reports , the Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera was quoted in the local media as saying that the Sri Lankan government would look in the matter . Earlier Robert Blake, a former ambassador to Sri Lanka, said it was “preferable” for Sri Lanka to have its own investigation in line with internationally accepted human rights standards, rather than face an external inquiry. His remarks came as the UN Human Rights Council was meeting in Geneva, where Sri Lanka has previously managed to avoid condemnation on the issue.