A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Thursday, August 10, 2017
Mayuri is still seeking to know the fate of her missing husband
Four
years ago, on 02 September 2013, Mayuri Inoka’s husband Madhushka
Harish de Silva was abducted. On 01 November 2014, Mayuri too, was
kidnapped, threatened to stop looking for her husband and dumped at
Medawachchiya. On the 02nd of last September Colombo Fort police leveled
a ridiculous accusation against her, that she used her children cruelly
during a sit-down protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat, and
also summoned 14 persons who had given her support and caused
inconvenience to them and made them abandon their support for her.
At the time of Madhushka’s abduction, Mayuri was pregnant, and later she gave birth to twins.
“Wasn’t my husband was abducted in a cruel manner?” she asked me
casually. When she went to Colombo Fort police to give a statement last
Friday, she was asked if she had obtained the death certificate. She
replied that if a death certificate was to be given, it was them who
should do so. However, that remark by the police makes one thing clear,
that her husband is no more. That is known to the OIC of the police
station too. The yet unresolved questions here are the fate of Madhushka
and the reason for his abduction.
A Dolphin van (no. 252-9209) blocked the path of Madhuskha’s three
wheeler and the abductors took him and his two friends in the
three-wheeler. They had claimed they were from the police. They even
used handcuffs. Madhushka was taken to an Army camp, while his two
friends were dumped on Puttalam road on the following day. Their active
contribution can be obtained for the investigation, but it is a question
as to whether the CID has done that. Mayuri told us that the two could
provide vital information regarding the abductors. A year ago, the
Anuradhapura magistrate referred the investigation to the CID. However,
the CID is yet to make submissions with regard to Madhhushka’s mobile
phone details. Neither have they made submissions with regard to the
officers of the Army camp to where Madhushka was taken.
Mayuri and her lawyer say that too much of time is being taken for this
case. Lawyer Priyalal Sirisena says the CID says every day a report will
be submitted and the case is getting put off. Mayuri has lodged a
complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC 3926/13). But, justice
is yet to be done for them. A promise given her by a coordinating
secretary to the president is still to be fulfilled either.
Govt. programme for missing persons
Govt. programme for missing persons
The office of missing persons was made law with the speaker’s having
signed the related act on 23 August 2016. However, it is yet to become
active. According to the WGEID, Sri Lanka is having the second highest
missing persons in its 35 year history. It has referred 12,341 incidents
of disappearances for confirmation. The government has confirmed 6,551
incidents.
The Maxwell Paranagama commission established by the previous government
launched its report in August 2015. That commission received 18,476
complaints of disappearances. The total number of disappearances during
the war is said to be around 24,000. Enforced disappearances are a crime
against humanity. The entire public as one should raise a voice to find
the truth and to prevent a repetition.
The OMP needs to be amended as it gives priority to incidents that could take place in the present. The past incidents are investigated on the basis of the position of the person who has gone missing and the effect of that person’s disappearance to society. Therefore, the disappearances of average citizens like Madhushka will not be investigated. That is a serious matter for concern. But, truth should come out one day. Civil society organizations and intellectuals should get together to pressurize the government into making the required legal provisions in place. Also, the OMP should be implemented despite its shortcomings. But, none of these have been done so far. Thousands like Mayuri do not know the fate of their missing loved ones.
The OMP needs to be amended as it gives priority to incidents that could take place in the present. The past incidents are investigated on the basis of the position of the person who has gone missing and the effect of that person’s disappearance to society. Therefore, the disappearances of average citizens like Madhushka will not be investigated. That is a serious matter for concern. But, truth should come out one day. Civil society organizations and intellectuals should get together to pressurize the government into making the required legal provisions in place. Also, the OMP should be implemented despite its shortcomings. But, none of these have been done so far. Thousands like Mayuri do not know the fate of their missing loved ones.
Lanka News Web will discuss in detail in the future about the
shortcomings of the OMP act. Until then, we should keep in mind that
there are nearly 24,000 voices (during the previous regime alone) to
raise a voice about the missing persons.
Britto Fernando of the missing persons association told us, “Mayuri and
Madhuska’s family members intervened on behalf of Madhuska several
times. They went to the police and staged protests. We supported the
protests against the disappearances during the Mahinda regime. We were
able to make that a topic in Anuradhapura town. Every day we staged
protests in front of the court. We distributed leaflets and raised
public awareness. We sought the questioning of a police officer. But, it
was only around a year later that the matter was taken to court. After
we told the court that investigations were not taking place properly, it
handed it over to the CID. But, they keep on postponing the hearing for
further investigations. We believe this is not being investigated
impartially. Mayuri’s affidavit clearly says that the top police
officer named Mahesh Senanayake told her that he knew only what happened
until Madhuska was taken to Puttalam, and nothing thereafter. But, a
statement is yet to be recorded from Senanayake.”
Human rights activist Ruki Fernando said, “It is nearly four years ago
that Madhuskha was abducted. All the available evidence has been handed
over to the police. It is on record that the police had been aware of
the incident. But, nothing has been done for four years. Mayuri has gone
to courts, complained to the Human Rights Commission, protested in
front of the Presidential Secretariat and met its officials. Various
promises were given, but nothing has been done so far. That means that
just like the previous regime did, the present government too, does not
allow an impartial investigation to allow a wife, family members to
obtain information. None of the promises given by the Presidential
Secretariat has been fulfilled. This is very tragic. Noting has been
given for his two small children. This is the situation of thousands of
families of missing persons in Sri Lanka. Mayuri is just one of them.
There are thousands more.”
Attempts to contact police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara for comments failed.
~ Basuru Jayawardena