COLOMBO : A group of social activists has appealed the president to pay the budget approved interim allowance to the families of the disappeared persons.
In a letter addressed to the president, it states : “ We the undersigned, having carefully listened to the heart-rending narratives of the courageous and committed mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, daughters and sons of those forcibly dispappeared by various alleged perpetrators during the past 40 years, urge the present Government to pay those who are eligible for the facility.”
The letter has pointed out that the Cabinet has approved and already-allocated a sum of Rs 200,000/- as an interim allowance. The money for 5000 such families – amounting to 1000 million rupees – was approved in the 2025 budget and the identical amount was allocated in the 2024 Budget and disbursed accordingly during that year.
“ Hence,why the payment has not continued in 2025 to other affected families who are registered and have fulfilled all other requirements remains unclear.”
