David Cameron demands investigation into Sri Lankan abuses David Cameron has promised to "demand" an independent investigation into Sri Lanka's human rights abuses, including thousands of disappearances, when he attends a Commonwealth summit in the country next week. The Prime Minister pledged to hold "frank conversations" with Sri Lanka's government over the intimidation of journalists and the lack of accountability for atrocities allegedly committed in the final stages of the civil war in 2009. Writing in the Tamil Guardian, a London-based newspaper, Mr Cameron defended his decision to attend the summit in Sri Lanka, which opens next Friday, saying he would "shine the international spotlight on the lack of progress in the country." Mr Cameron will be the first foreign leader to visit Northern Province, which suffered most from the civil war, and from more recent abuses. "Progress on elections, reconstruction, de-mining and resettlement of those displaced by the conflict is important - but it is frankly not enough," he wrote. I will demand that the Sri Lankan government independently and transparently investigates alleged war crimes and allegations of continuing human rights abuses; guarantees freedom of expression; and stamps out intimidation of journalists and human rights defenders. The Prime Minister noted that "thousands of people have yet to find out what has happened to their missing relatives." Sri Lanka has 5,676 outstanding cases of disappearances, according to the United Nations - more than anywhere else in the world apart from Iraq. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, promised in The Daily Telegraph yesterday (THURS) that the Government would raise these cases and demand a "thorough" investigation. Mr Cameron said: "This will not be an easy conversation. But diplomacy is not about ducking the difficult discussions. It is about talking to those that you may not agree with precisely because you want to change their approach.