to provide interim relief to the families of the disappeared.

Hon. Harsha Nanayakkara allocated Rs. 14 million in the 2024 budget for interim relief to families of the disappeared, allowing Rs. 200,000 each for 5,000 families. However, no payments have been made in six months due to lack of Cabinet approval for investigations by the Office on Missing Persons (OMP). Despite calls for strengthening OMP, staff numbers remain low and no investigations have started. The government’s delay risks returning funds to the Treasury. The Association of Families for the Disappeared demands urgent Cabinet approval, increased investigations, full fund disbursement, and recruitment of OMP staff, urging action by June 10.

Hon. Harsha Nanayakkara, Minister of Justice and National Integration has allocated a sum of Rs. 14 million from the 2024 November Budget to provide interim relief to the families of the disappeared.
Accordingly, it would have been possible to pay Rs. 200,000 each to 5,000 families. However, the government has failed to disburse this amount during the past six months.
Only about six months remain until the next, new budget. If the allocated funds for interim relief are not utilized within this period, the money will have to be returned to the Treasury.
Due to the underutilization of Rs. 1,000 million allocated in 2023/24, approximately Rs. 200 million had to be returned to the Treasury.
If the full amount is to be utilized this time, approximately 1,000 investigations must be conducted each month starting now.
According to the information we have received, even though six months have passed, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has not conducted a single investigation so far regarding the disappeared.
The main reason for this is that the cabinet paper submitted by the Ministry of Justice seeking cabinet approval for conducting such investigations has not yet been approved by the Cabinet.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and others have stated in Parliament and before the Human Rights Commission that international interventions are unnecessary in relation to the issue of disappearances and that domestic mechanisms will be strengthened instead.
However, no steps have been taken so far to strengthen the OMP since the new government assumed power, which is deeply regrettable.
For example, while approximately 250 staff members are required for the proper functioning of the OMP, it currently has only 49 staff members. Although applications were called for new recruitments, government approval for these recruitments has not yet been granted.
This government which includes a majority of members whose own family members have disappeared, is showing an alarming indifference towards strengthening the OMP and disbursing interim relief to these families.
It is unjust that months are being spent waiting for Cabinet approval.
Therefore, we request the following:
1. Immediate Cabinet approval for OMP investigations required for the disbursement of Rs. 200,000interim relief to each eligible family.
2. That the OMP be facilitated to conduct 5,000 investigations within the next six months, and to refer relevant recommendations to the Reparations Office for payment of interim relief to those families.
3. To take necessary steps to fully disburse the funds allocated in the previous budget to the relevant families accordingly.
4. To initiate recruitment of the required OMP staff as soon as possible.
We also kindly request to be informed in writing of the interventions taken in response to our demands. Furthermore, we strongly urge you to intervene to ensure that the required cabinet approval for OMP investigations is granted by June 10 at the least.
Britto Fernando
Chairperson
Association of Families for the Disappeared
Copies to:
1. H.E. the president
2. Hon. Prime Minister
3. Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs
4. Office on Missing Persons (OMP)
5. Reparations Office
6. Office for National Unity and Reconciliation
7. Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
8. JVP General Secretary, Comrade Tilvin Silva