The Sri Lankan government's domestic commission investigating disappearances has further delayed its conclusion, reporting that it will now finalise proceedings on 15 August 2015.
The Presidential Commission to Investigate Missing Persons was initially due to conclude on 15 February 2015. It has now been granted a further 6 months, H W Gunadasa, Secretary of the Commission told the Sunday Leader.
The United National Party, in opposition at the time the commission was announced, slammed the domestic inquiry – suggesting it was a betrayal of Sri Lankan soldiers.
The commission, which has been marred by claims of military intimidation of witnesses, has been criticised by the Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Tamil National Alliance, who labelled it “deceptive”. Highlighting Sri Lanka's historic failure of domestic inquiries, the Bishop of Mannar refused to testify before it.
Despite the intimidation, over 18,000 submissions were made in just three hearings across the North-East.
See our earlier posts:
Our children were killed by the Army - Tamil mothers testify (15 Dec 2014)
Presidential Commission chair dismisses CPA criticism (05 October 2014)
Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances lacks credibility - CPA (02 Oct 2014)
'Deceptive' Presidential Commission on Missing Persons an attempt to mislead people – TNA (17 August 2014)
Chair of govt commission accuses NGOs of inflating disappearance numbers (12 August 2014)
Bishop of Mannar refuses to participate in Sri Lanka's domestic inquiry on missing persons (10 August 2014)
Cross-party concern over 'betrayal' of Sri Lankan soldiers in Presidential Inquiry (28 July 2014)
TNA remains sceptical over government commission (27 July 2014)
CPA criticises expansion of presidential commission mandate (25 July 2014)
UNP expresses ‘serious concern’ over government u-turn on presidential commission (22 July 2014)
Over 18,000 cases submitted for disappearances commission (06 June 2014)
Desperate search for disappeared continues (16 February 2014)
‘Government commission is a fake’ NPC Deputy Chairman tells Japan (12 Feb 2014)
Disappearance investigation commission a farce - Ananthy Sasitharan (02 January 2014)
TNA rejects presidential commission to probe disappearances (29 July 2013)
Rajapaksa appoints disappearance commission (14 August 2013)
Another commission... (26 July 2013)
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