The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) has expressed concern this week regarding the absence of a comprehensive register of disappeared persons in Sri Lanka and the limited progress made in clarifying their fate and whereabouts.
The Committee issued its findings on Benin, Montenegro, and Sri Lanka on Tuesday, following its review of the three States Parties during the latest session. In its report, the Committee noted that Sri Lanka’s Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has so far traced only 23 disappeared persons out of the 16,966 cases it has received.
The Committee also voiced concern over the prevailing high level of impunity, citing the lack of progress in investigating and prosecuting alleged enforced disappearances, including those that took place during the armed conflict.
It called on Sri Lanka to establish a comprehensive and updated register of all disappearance cases and to strengthen the OMP’s capacity to search for disappeared persons, investigate alleged disappearances, and ensure accountability for all registered cases. The Committee further urged Sri Lanka to incorporate war crimes and crimes against humanity into its national legislation and expedite the establishment of an independent Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Additionally, the Committee raised concern over the accidental discovery of at least 17 mass graves across the country. It highlighted the limited forensic capacity among relevant authorities, as well as the absence of centralized ante-mortem and post-mortem databases and a national genetic database.
The Committee urged Sri Lanka to enhance the capacity of national institutions to locate and identify mass graves, conduct exhumations, and develop a comprehensive strategy for the search, identification, excavation, and investigation of burial sites.
“The State Party should build forensic capacity across all competent authorities for the identification, safekeeping, and dignified return of identified bodies and human remains to their families, ensuring the secure preservation of the human remains and their chain of custody. Sri Lanka should also create a centralized, comprehensive ante-mortem and post-mortem database and establish a genetic one,” the UN Committee said.
