Over 200 LTTE cadres who have been listed as missing by their relatives are actually hiding abroad, claimed Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Mr Samaraweera told journalists that though some Tamils may still be searching for their missing child, husband or brother, those listed as missing had actually smuggled themselves overseas during the final stages of the armed conflict in May 2009.

On Tuesday, the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination (IMADR), and Britto Fernando jointly held an event in Colombo welcoming the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Act and commemorating the International Day for Victims of Enforced Disappearances. 

Speaking at the event, TNA Spokesperson, M.A. Sumanthiran, called the passage of the OMP Act a first step on the right path though he noted that the harder steps are to follow regarding implementation. He acknowledged that there is distrust in the OMP and that it is valid that people are questioning how it will differ from previous mechanisms, but then called on people not to reject it.  

Also at the event, Nishantha Warnasinghe of the JHU, welcomed the OMP and spoke about the need for finding answers for families of disappeared across the island. 

Families of the disappeared, activists and civil society across the North-East of Sri Lanka participated in demonstrations calling for international justice for the disappearances of their loved ones on the International Day for Victims of Enforced Disappearances. 
 
In Jaffna, families of the disappeared marched from the Jaffna Kachcheri to the UN office carrying signs calling for “international justice for enforced disappearances.” The group handed over a memo to the UN office articulating their concerns based on the National Consultation Task Force’s interim report and the Office of Missing Persons (OMP). 

The OMP Act was signed into law this month after being passed by parliament. The OMP bill has been heavily criticized for the process by which it was formed, particularly regarding the lack of consultations with victims and their representatives. The National Consultation Task Force appointed by the Sri Lankan government released their interim report on the OMP on the same day the bill was put before parliament. The interim report was never considered by parliament as the debate which was expected to last two days was cut short to less than an hour. 

World Bank South Asia Region Vice President Annette Dixon arrived on an official visit on Monday, where she will travel to Jaffna to meet officials and examine projects supported by the global organisation.

“I look forward to my first visit to the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and meeting with key officials as well as civil society representatives to receive a firsthand account of the development progress and how the Bank’s support can have maximum impact,” said Ms Dixon. “Sri Lanka’s journey towards higher growth and prosperity will require progress across all provinces,” she added.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister told reporters that a domestic court will probe cases of human rights violations, following the conclusion of a series of consultations across the island.

Foreign judges will not be invited to participate in the process, declared the foreign minister, at a press meet at the foreign ministry in Colombo on Monday.

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance stressed that the construction of Buddha statues across the North-East was adding to ethnic tensions in the region, in a meeting with the Sri Lankan prime minister last week.

Meeting with Ranil Wickremasinghe, TNA leader R Sampanthan said that construction of Buddhist places of worship, alongside the resettlement of Sinhala people in the North-East, was causing panic amongst Tamils and his party “strongly condemns all such acts”.

Sri Lanka's foreign affairs minister, Mangala Samaraweera pledged the new draft constitution would be presented before the next budget, which is expected in mid-November. 

“We hope to be able to present that in parliament before the next budget,” the Daily Mirror quoted Mr Samaraweera as saying whilst addressing a gathering at Point Pedro on Sunday. 

“We have been busy creating or placing a foundation for a new Sri Lanka. Based on the three pillars of democratisation, reconciliation and development,” he added. 

Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran has called on the Sri Lankan president to ensure the safety of Tamil students at the University of Peradeniya, following an attack on Tamil students

The parents of Tamil students who were attacked by Sinhalese students met with Justice Wigneswaran on Saturday. Many of the parents were still hesitant to send their students to classes, they said.

Muslim and Tamil students were injured in an attack by Sinhala students last week. Some of those injured are still receiving treatment in hospital.

The USS Frank Cable is set to visit Sri Lanka on Monday, making it the third United States navy ship to visit the island this year.

The crew of 500 members “will enjoy shore leave and volunteer at an animal shelter,” said an official press release.

Earlier this year the USS Blue Ridge and USS New Orleans visited Colombo.