Sri Lanka establishes office to investigate war time disappearances

By APD writer Easwaran

**COLOMBO, Sept. 13 (APD) ** – Sri Lanka on Wednesday established an office to investigate war time disappearances.

President Maithripala Sirisena

President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, signed and published a gazette notification to operationalize the Office on Missing Persons (OMP).

The Office on Missing Persons Act comes into implementation and operation with effect from 15th September, as the President has placed his signature on the gazette notification, the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation said.

Accordingly, the OMP will be established and its functions, duties, and mandate will come into operation with effect from 15th September.

V. Sivagnanasothy, Secretary Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation said the operationalization of the OMP marks another significant step taken forward in Sri Lanka’s path to reconciliation.

Earlier this week the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called on Sri Lanka to swiftly operationalize the Office of Missing Persons and to move faster on other essential post war confidence buildingmeasures, such as release of land occupied by the military, and resolving long-pending cases registered under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Sri Lanka defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009 after 30 years of war and is now rebuilding communities and infrastructure.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)