Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has denied the existence of secret detention camps, where Tamils are thought to have been sent during and after the armed conflict.
"Last week, I had an opportunity to meet a group of mothers still looking for their missing children. The issue of secret detention camps came up and assured them such facilities do not exist. I assured them of a thorough inquiry in case they could reveal secret detention camps," the minister said to media.
Thousands of Tamils remain missing, 6 years after the end of the armed conflict, including those taken captive by the Sri Lankan army in front of their families.
In February TNA MP Suresh Premachandran said over 700 people were held at a secret camp in Trincomalee. Other reports, including accounts from relatives of those abducted, indicate there are several secret camps dotted across the North-East.
Tamil man granted asylum in Switzerland after being deported, detained and abused in Sri Lanka (27 April 2015)
Government ministries refuse to release list of detainees (26 April 2015)
Sri Lanka justice minister denies mass detentions under anti-terror laws (02 April 2015)
Tamils still held in secret Sri Lankan military camps (31 March 2015)
Over 700 people held at secret army camp – TNA (20 February 2015)
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Sri Lanka's domestic commission to hold new sittings in Trinco (19 February 2015) Batticaloa mothers demand Sri Lanka govt releases detained children (16 February 2015) Tamils across North-East Sri Lanka demand release of disappeared in new wave of protests (09 February 2015)
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Sri Lanka's systematic rape of Tamil detainees – HRW (26 Feb 2013) |
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