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Sri Lanka claimed on Wednesday that an inquiry had found no truth in reports that military guards had traded sex for food in welfare camps set up for Tamil refugees during the final phase of the country's war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
"With authority I can tell you that no such incident has happened," Major General Kamal Gunaratne, a top Sri Lankan commander in the Wanni region, said.
Gunaratne also said that an inquiry had been conducted and nothing was found.
He claimed if such allegations were there against forces or government officials, they had the liberty to complain to authorities.
The General claimed that soldiers of his army were "highly disciplined" and had taken part in humanitarian operations, saving many precious lives.
British Sunday paper 'The Observer' had reported that Sri Lankan soldiers guarding the refugee camps teeming with people had traded sex for food.
Quoting a 25-year-old refugee Vany Kumar, who was locked up in a camp for four months, said not only military guards traded sex for food with Tamil women but prisoners were also being made to kneel for hours in the sun.
"I'm sure no such incident has taken place. More than 90 percent of government administrative officials are Tamils. If there is any such incident, it will be highlighted," the General said.