Fri, 29 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

People attend first OMP meeting despite scepticism

By

13 May 2018 07:42 pm - 2     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The first outreach meeting of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) was held in Mannar on Saturday and many people had engaged in the meeting despite scepticism, OMP Chairman Saliya Pieris PC said today.

The OMP Chairman said the meeting which was attended by about 250 people was held at the Mannar District Secretariat convened by the District Secretary.

“All seven Commissioners of the OMP attended the meeting. The idea of the meeting was to share our plans with the family members of the disappeared and also to listen to their stories and ideas. Many of the families are sceptical whether the OMP can give them the answers and many of them probably expect quick results. unfortunately, the process of tracing the disappeared is a complicated process. However, it is encouraging to note that people participated in the meeting although many were sceptical. We told the people our plans. We are forming our 12 regional offices, eight in the North and East and four in the rest of the country,” he told the Daily Mirror.

He said the families expressed concerns that they had gone after so many commissions and institutions. “There were a lot of scepticism but we invited and told them that, despite their scepticism, to engage with the OMP and think of the OMP as one avenue that can be used to trace the missing and the disappeared,” he said.

Elaborating more about the meeting, he said it was based more on sharing of ideas as an outreach meeting than an investigation.

“This is the first of many OMP meeting to be held to reach out to the family members of the disappeared. What was noteworthy at the meeting was that there were so many stories to be shared, their versions of the stories and how their loved ones disappeared. What was admirable is the tenacity which they have pursued. One lady's son has disappeared in 1989. We saw the courage and tenacity of the people who came there,” he said.

Mr. Pieris said the fact that the people were willing to participate despite their doubts were positive. “We clarified their concerns and asked them to report to us if they feel threatened by participating in the meetings, as some people raised concerns to that effect,” he said. The next OMP outreach meeting would be held in Matara on Saturday (19). (Lahiru Pothmulla)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 2

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Jaffna Man Monday, 14 May 2018 03:32 AM

    If this Office On Missing Persons is trustworthy and honest to its name then as a Jaffna Tamil, I ask them to investigate the mystery of the Jaffna Stadium war grave where bodies of scores of men,women,and children were unearthed by the labourers few years ago. The estimated time of the killings does not tally with the period the LTTE or the Sri Lankan Army operating in the area. But it precisely coincides with the time the Indian Army was stationed near the stadium.So many people in Jaffna need answers and the Tamil Politicians have refused to get involved in order to please the Indians.

    Selvendran Monday, 14 May 2018 05:15 AM

    When it comes to innocent Tamil civilians,more disappeared at the hands of the Indian Army than the Sri Lankan Army.But the dirty Tamil politicians and the hypocritical LTTE diaspora does not want to talk about it.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H