COLOMBO, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake on Friday said the Sri Lankan Army was preparing material to defend itself against war crimes allegations made in the international arena.

Speaking to the Foreign Correspondents Association, Senanayake said the army had set up a "Directorate of Overseas Operations" dedicated to preparing the material.

"The Army considers it necessary to have an organization or a think tank of its own, to defend the institution in the context of the grave charges. And the defense has to be carried out with facts and figures." the Army Chief said.

He further said that the Directorate of Overseas Operations was set up in April and is collecting relevant material.

Sri Lanka's military defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels after a 30-year war in May 2009.

The Sri Lankan government said that it will conduct a domestic probe, and refuted allegations that the army was involved in any human rights violations during the war.