UN Secretary-General António Guterres has commended the Sri Lankan government for establishing the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), saying it was a significant milestone for all Sri Lankans still searching for their missing loved ones.
"The UN stands ready to support this process and the Secretary-General looks forward to the OMP becoming operational as soon as possible, starting with the appointment of the independent commissioners, " a statement from the UN Office said on Friday.
President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday issued a gazette notification setting up the long-awaited OMP, which will probe into the disappearance of thousands of people during and after Sri Lanka's civil conflict between government troops and Tamil Tiger guerrillas.
The OMP will be given wide powers to investigate the disappearance of more than 20,000 people, mostly minority Tamils who were the worst affected by the conflict.
--IANS
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