EU urges Sri Lanka to honour commitments on OMP

The European Union (EU) says the Sri Lankan Government must honour their commitments on the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) and Transitional Justice.

In a tweet, the EU office in Sri Lanka said that without clarity about the fate of their missing or disappeared loved ones, many Sri Lankans will not be able to participate in national reconciliation.

The families of the disappeared from Kilinochchi yesterday marked one year of continuous protests.

The protest is being staged to find out the truth about their loved ones and hold accountable those responsible for their disappearances.

President Maithripala met with the families of the disappeared in June and November last year and promised to release a list of surrendees who surrendered to the Army at the end of the war in 2009.

The families handed over a letter stating five key demands to the President, requesting the release of lists of all who surrendered to the armed forces, during and after the war, particularly during the last phase, a list of all secret detention centers, their status and list of detainees, and a list of all political prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). To date, none of their demands have been met. (Colombo Gazette)