- Dep. Nat’l Integration Min. Muneer Mulaffer says authorities looking for ways to strengthen same by addressing shortcomings, providing needed facilities
COLOMBO – The Government is frequently reviewing the progress of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and is working to increase its efficiency, said the Deputy Minister of National Integration Muneer Mulaffar.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said: “We are constantly discussing the OMP’s progress. We are looking into ways to strengthen it by identifying its shortcomings and providing them with the necessary facilities to efficiently fulfill their responsibilities.”
The National People’s Power (NPP) Government has stated that it aims to restore and strengthen public trust in national unity and reconciliation mechanisms such as the OMP, which it states were weakened during previous administrations.
On an earlier occasion, Mulaffar noted that institutions like the OMP had previously been misused for political appointments. He said that under the current administration, these institutions would focus genuinely on reconciliation and national unity.
“Everything has changed now. The situation is not like it was 10 years ago. We need to adapt to these changes and implement programmes. We plan to collaborate with other relevant agencies, such as the Ministries of Mass Media, Sports, and Cultural Affairs, to fulfill the true objectives of institutions like the OMP.”
This week, former OMP Chair, President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris noted that complexities in government procedures and divided opinions on the issue of ‘forced disappearances’ have hindered the delivery of justice to the families of the victims, as well as the functioning of institutions established to investigate such incidents. He further explained that certain systemic barriers in government procedures such as delays in recruitment and insufficient financial allocations have obstructed the functioning of institutions like the OMP. He added that this situation is similar in both the North and the South, even though public opinion is divided.
Over the past, Sri Lanka has established several structures such as the OMP, the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, the Office for Reparations, and various commissions aimed at promoting national unity and reconciliation. These structures are intended to heal divisions, provide justice for victims, and promote understanding between ethnic groups, but their effectiveness has been questioned by many.-The Morning
