March 26, 2014, 10:28 pm
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has backdated the date of commencement of investigations by the Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe cases of alleged disappearances of persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces to cover the period from January 01, 1983 to May 19, 2009, when the LTTE was defeated.
H. W. Gunadasa, Secretary to the Presidential Commission to investigate into Complaints regarding Missing Persons, has said in a media statement: "In terms of the Mandate issued to this Commission by The President by Extra Ordinary Gazette Notification No 1823/42 dated 15th August 2013, the period for conducting investigations into complaints regarding missing persons was from 10th June 1990 to May 19th 2009.
"However, due to requests made by organisations and relatives of missing persons who disappeared or went missing prior to June 1990 requested that the period of inquiry to be backdated. Accordingly, the President having considered the request of the Commission has back dated the date for conducting investigations form 1st January 1983 to 19th May 2009."
