Special project to expedite missing persons investigations by 2027

Friday, 5 September 2025 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Wednesday approved fast-tracking investigations into complaints of missing and disappeared persons through a special project to be completed by the end of 2027.

The initiative will be carried out under the provisions of the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration, and Functioning), Act No. 14 of 2016, which established the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) as a dedicated mechanism to investigate and report on cases of disappearance.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said it was approved to appoint 25 subcommittees comprising 75 qualified individuals, including retired judges, senior administrative officers, and lawyers.

“These subcommittees will assist in completing investigations and issuing reports to families of the missing, with the goal of providing long-delayed justice to affected communities,” he added.

Accordingly, the OMP has received 16,966 complaints since its inception, of which 10,517 remain pending investigation.

Dr. Jayatissa said the Government has pledged to support the OMP in fulfilling its mandate and ensuring closure for families who have waited years for answers.