The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) chairman Saliya Pieris delivered its ‘interim report’ to Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister earlier today.
The OMP, which has been deeply criticised by Tamil families of the disappeared for lacking independence and failing to take their views into consideration, handed over the report at a ceremony in Colombo.
The OMP’s chairman Saliya Pieris tweeted that the report “contains recommendations for interim relief as well as securing truth, justice and memorialisation”.
Last week the OMP claimed about 20,000 people are missing since 1983, however said it was yet to finalise the figures.
Tamil families of the disappeared have repeatedly expressed their concerns regarding the OMP, noting that their requests “have not been taken on board”.
“Given that our concerns have not been addressed and given that the president has failed to deliver his promises in relation to releasing the lists we are left with no option but to conclude that the OMP will be an exercise in futility,” said a letter from the families earlier this month.
“The OMP’s composition is riddled with contradictions… Be that as it may, for us to trust the OMP despite all of this we need to see action, not words, not more offices.”
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