Colombo, The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday said the accountability process to investigate war crimes during the 30-year civil war in the island nation will begin next month. 

Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, who heads the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, said the government was committed to achieving reconciliation and justice, Xinhua news agency reported.

Thousands of civilians, mostly Tamils, were alleged to have been killed in the conflict between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels which ended in May 2009.

Kumaratunga said special courts would be set up led by Sri Lankan judges and with international technical assistance.

She stressed that Sri Lanka now had the golden opportunity to achieve reconciliation by building bridges among all its communities.