Names of suspects sent to AG

Missing persons Commission

The Missing Persons’ Commission Chairman Maxwell Paranagama said yesterday the names of the suspects mentioned during public hearings were referred to the Attorney General for appropriate action. The Commission, appointed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to inquire into disappearances submitted its interim report to President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday.

It said at least four different groups including Sri Lanka's security forces and the LTTE were responsible for the disappearances of hundreds of people during the armed conflict.

The three-member Commission was mandated to conduct inquiries and investigations into cases of abductions and disappearances that had occurred between 1983 and 2009 and submit a report to the President.

The interim report reveals that the LTTE was responsible for 60% of the forced disappearances in the North while the security forces were responsible for 30% percent of them. Other armed groups and unknown groups have been responsible for the rest. "Based on the inquiries conducted thus far accountability and responsibility by these parties vary from district to district," the report said.

Since its establishment on August 15, 2013, the Commission had received more than 20,106 complaints including nearly 5,200 complaints from relatives of missing security forces personnel. The Commission has heard oral evidence from some 1,440 complainants during public sittings held in the Northern and Eastern provinces. The recorded evidences of these complainants were analyzed for further investigations through an independent investigative team. The reported cases of disappearances and abductions allegedly by security forces, has been forwarded to the attorney general for appropriate action.

“We have requested a meeting with President Sirisena to discuss the future role of the commission and also the funds for the Commission,” Mr. Paranagama said.

Other members of the Commission are Suranjan Vidyaratne and Mano Ramanathan.