Truth and Reconciliation - Legislation soon to set up Commission

By Yohan Perera in Jaffna   

The Government will shortly introduce legislation to set up the much-delayed Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweea said 
on Saturday.   

Addressing the Enterprise Sri Lanka Exhibition, he said the Government had implemented several projects to assist the Northern people though allegations were levelled that the implementation of measures to assist the war-affected people had been delayed.   

“We have implemented several measures to assist the people in the North. One such is the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) which is functioning now. Families of those missing issued with certificates of absence will be given Rs.6,000 a month from the OMP. This payment will also be given to families of security personnel who have gone missing during the war and to the families subjected to harassment unconnected to the war. We will also introduce a Bill to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission soon and in November introduce legislation to set up the Palmyra Development Fund,” the minister said.   

We have implemented several measures to assist the people in the North. One such is the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) which is functioning now. Families of those missing issued with certificates of absence will be given Rs.6,000 a month from the OMP.