The List of Complaints and Information Regarding Missing and Disappeared Persons Received by the Office on Missing Persons (the List) is an important step towards creating a comprehensive list of missing and disappeared persons in Sri Lanka. The publication of the List is part of an on-going process by the OMP to collate data related to missing and disappeared persons.
The List includes cases that are within the OMP’s mandate and cases that require further clarification in order to determine whether they fall within the OMP’s mandate. It excludes cases that fall outside of the OMP’s mandate. As per section 27 of the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) Act, No. 14 of 2016 (the Act) a missing person is defined as a person who went missing or were disappeared in connection with the conflict, political unrest or civil disturbances or as an enforced disappearance; and personnel of the armed forces or police who have been identified as Missing in Action.
The List includes data obtained from i) complaints received directly by the OMP; ii) complaints obtained by the former Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation from District Secretariats and forwarded to the OMP; and iii) lists of Missing in Action personnel provided by the armed forces at the request of the OMP. It contains information provided by persons regarding missing and disappeared persons residing in all districts, apart from Batticaloa, which has the largest numbers of complaints, which will be released soon.
The List contains the following information: i) a reference number assigned by the OMP; ii) the name of the missing or disappeared person in English and in Sinhala or Tamil; iii) the date that the person went missing or were disappeared; and iv) the district in which the missing or disappeared person last resided.
For Missing in Action personnel, the list contains the following information: i) the reference number assigned by the OMP; ii) the name of the missing person in English; iii) the date that the person went missing; iv) the service number assigned by the tri-forces to personnel; v) rank of the missing person; vi) the place where the person went missing and vii) in case of Army personnel, the regiment of the missing person. The date on which the person went missing has been included in the List based on the information provided by the complainant or the date on which the person was last seen, as reported to the OMP.
In February 2020, the OMP commenced a process of verification by inviting families of the missing and disappeared to contact the OMP to review the information concerning their missing or disappeared loved ones. Simultaneously, the OMP has been engaging in an internal verification process to avoid duplicate records. Developing a comprehensive list enables the OMP to conduct inquiries and investigations, develop internal processes, and make recommendations regarding the rights and interests of the missing and disappeared and their relatives.
The List will be developed further, by consolidating data relating to missing and disappeared persons obtained by processes that are on-going, or that were previously carried out, by other State institutions, Commissions of Inquiry and organizations. Families of the missing and disappeared and members of the public are encouraged to provide any further information to consolidate and/or revise information included in the List.
Access the questions and answers regarding the List here.
Missing People by District
To view the list of missing and disappeared persons according to the district from which the complaint was made, please click on the relevant district found below:
Missing People by Armed Forces
To view the list of Missing in Action personnel from the Armed Forces, please click on the relevant section below: