ICRC hosts second National Conference for Families of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka

Thursday, 3 July 2025 04:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The second National Conference for Families of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka took place from 25-27 June in Colombo. Facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Conference brought together 62 representatives of families of missing persons from all communities and diverse regions in Sri Lanka.

The Conference provided a neutral humanitarian space for families of missing persons to interact with families from other communities and exchange views and discuss common issues and challenges faced in the continuous search for their missing loved ones and how to overcome them collectively. The need to know the fate and whereabouts of their missing loved ones was reiterated throughout the Conference by the participating families of missing persons.

The second National Conference for Families of Missing Persons also served as a forum for families to engage in a direct, interactive dialogue with the relevant authorities on improving the existing processes and mechanisms available in Sri Lanka to address the multifaceted needs of families of missing persons. Speaking to the families, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara highlighted the importance of justice, acknowledgment, and economic and psychosocial support for families of missing persons, while officials from the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) responded to queries from families.

The participants also benefitted from a presentation on the use of the certificate of absence, delivered by the representatives from the Registrar General’s Department. Further, the families engaged in a dialogue on their needs and challenges with members of the international community.

At the event, the findings from a recently concluded review of needs and expectations of families of missing persons in Sri Lanka, conducted by the ICRC, was shared with the participating families, representatives of the international community, and civil society actors. The Conference also included a panel discussion with two psychologists specialising in dealing with ambiguous loss or ‘frozen grief.’

The representatives of families of missing persons emphasised the importance of acknowledging their suffering and the need to receive answers on the fate and whereabouts of their missing loves ones, while drawing attention to the necessity for comprehensive support from authorities.

The second National Conference for Families of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka was conceptualised in consultation with families of missing persons from the East, North, and South of Sri Lanka, reflecting their priorities.

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