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Missing persons’ families reject addl. Rs. 100,000

12 Oct 2022

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Relatives of missing persons condemned the Government’s decision to pay an additional amount of Rs. 100,000 to the families of missing persons – thereby increasing the compensation paid in such cases from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 200,000 – as a tactic to end the longstanding struggle for justice by the families of the disappeared.   Speaking to The Morning yesterday (11), Mullaitivu District Organisation for Missing Persons President Mariyasuresh Eswary said that compensating relatives will not conclude their unresolved issues.  “Even if they do away with the requirement to obtain the certificate of absence in order to be eligible to obtain compensation, if we obtain that compensation, it could be considered an official certification of us accepting this Cabinet decision. Therefore, we will not entertain this decision. We are fed up with expecting justice from governments up to date, and therefore, we only expect the international community to satisfactorily address our longstanding issue.” Based on the certificate of absence issued by the Registrar General for the families of the missing persons, it was decided at the Cabinet meeting held on 14 March 2022 to pay a sum of Rs. 100,000 to the closest relative of the missing person. However, due to delays in obtaining the certificate of absence, as well as the amount of Rs. 100,000 not being sufficient, Cabinet, this week, approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Justice to ignore the requirement of obtaining the certificate of absence if the Office for Reparations has confirmed that the relevant person is missing, and to pay an increased amount of Rs. 200,000 in compensation.  


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