TNA warns of campaign against Certificates of Absence

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) today warned of a “mischievous” campaign against the Certificates of Absence.

TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran told Parliament today that families of those missing are being misled not to accept the?Certificates of Absence.

He was speaking on the?Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill.

Sumanthiran said that the?Certificates of Absence does not mean investigations into the missing will not move forward.

He said the?Certificates of Absence will ensure the Government recognises the missing.

Certificates of Absence have been used in a number of countries with high incidence of missing persons and has been considered as an effective interim measure that balances?the psychological and practical needs of family members and loved ones without dismissing the need for active investigation into cases of missing persons.

Sri Lanka has one of the largest case-loads of missing persons in the world. Since 1994 alone, the Government Commissions have received over 65,000 complaints of missing persons.?(Colombo Gazette)