Disappeared people: Fast called off after assurance by Ruwan

Senior ministers will meet relatives of disappeared people next month to explain the measures the Government is taking to find their whereabouts.

Fourteen Vavuniya residents whose loved ones were either arrested or handed over to the military during the war began a fast unto death on Monday, claiming the Government has failed to take effective steps to locate those who had disappeared.

As the hunger strike entered its fourth consecutive day on Thursday, State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene flew from Colombo to meet them and assured that a meeting with relevant stakeholders would be held at Temple Trees on February 9 to decide on effective action.

The fast was suspended after Mr. Wijewardene gave the assurance. Among those fasting was an elderly woman, who was admitted to hospital on Tuesday when she felt dizzy after her sugar level went down.

Civil society groups in Vavuniya, Jaffna university students and youth groups participated in a demonstration, expressing solidarity with the fasting Vavuniya residents.

Among those attending the February 9 meeting will be Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Attorney General Department officials and the Inspector General Police (IGP), Mr. Wijewardene says in a letter.

Sellaiyah Amirthalingam who took part in the four- day hunger strike told the Sunday Times that he was hoping to get a genuine response from the Government during the February 9 meeting to know about what had happened to his elder sister and her daughter who went missing in the final days of the war at Mullivaaikaal in Mullaithvu in 2009.

“We have been asking the Government to tell us what has happened to our loved ones. I request them to give a reply from their heart,” he said, explaining the mental trauma he and his family have been going through since 2009.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi told the Sunday Times that the Ministry had forwarded a report to President Maithripala Sirisena on the proposed Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Act which was passed by the parliament recently.

“There are some serious concerns raised over this Act including giving open access to military installations,” he said.

He, however, denied reports that the Defence Ministry was against the OMP.