Sri Lanka's Office on Missing Persons has streamlined thousands of duplicate records into a verified database of 23,352 missing individuals, eight years after the state mechanism was established to address enforced disappearances.
Sri Lanka's Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has completed a major consolidation effort, reducing initial complaint records from approximately 42,000 to a verified list of 23,352 missing individuals. According to OMP Chairman Mahesh Katulanda, the consolidation process involved identifying and removing duplicate entries that had accumulated across multiple institutions, including past presidential commissions, UN agencies, and international organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The verification challenge stemmed from systemic obstacles that hindered record-keeping, particularly the absence of centralized databases and national identity documentation during past conflict periods. Many families had submitted complaints to multiple agencies, further complicating efforts to track individual cases accurately. Through manual verification and direct family engagement, OMP officials met face-to-face with 9,072 families across the island to authenticate records. The consolidated list includes 16,966 active cases involving civilians, alongside separate categories for missing military and police personnel.
The government has demonstrated increased commitment to the process by providing interim relief payments to over 5,700 families, with recommendations submitted for an additional 2,000 cases. The Cabinet recently allocated 375 million rupees for family outreach efforts and authorized recruitment of 69 additional staff members, including legal officers, investigators, and psycho-social support personnel. The OMP aims to expand its reach to between 13,000 and 14,000 families by year's end.
To mark the upcoming International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 25, the OMP plans to hold a main commemoration event in Jaffna, with regional events scheduled across the Northern, Eastern, and Southern provinces.
