Proposals on Truth Commission soon

by Manjula Fernando

The Consultation Task Force (CTF) seeking public views on the structure of a Truth Seeking Mechanism is expected to wrap up and finalise the report shortly. A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said once the report is handed over, a basic concept of the design of a Truth Seeking Commission could be ready for comments, hopefully by the end of September.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, addressing the media on Thursday said the government aims to wrap up initial work on the Truth Seeking Commission by September. He said the Bill that provides for the setting up of the Missing Persons Office is already before Parliament. Both were pledges made to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by the Government last year.

The Bill will be referred to the Supreme Court for any inconsistency with the Constitution by the Speaker, before it is taken up for debate. The spokesperson said if the Bill is not challenged in the Supreme Court, the Government can go ahead with setting up the office as planned.

However, Human Rights Watch last May, criticised the move saying the Government did not honour its pledge in Geneva to hold nationwide consultations with affected families before setting up the Missing Persons Office. The HRW said, "On May 24, 2016, Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved the new Office of Missing Persons without talking with the families who have long waited for justice."