Consultations Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms calls for submissions

The Consultations Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms appointed by the Prime Minister on 26 January, is tasked with consulting members of the public on the processes and mechanisms for reconciliation in Sri Lanka to seek truth and justice, ensure accountability for human rights violations and provide measures for redress.

The Government has indicated that it is considering the following mechanisms to achieve this:

nAn Office of Missing Persons

nA Truth, Justice, Reconciliation and Non-Recurrence Commission 

nA Judicial Mechanism with a Special Counsel

nAn Office of Reparations

The Task Force invites submissions from the public on the design of structures, processes and measures to seek truth and justice, ensure accountability and offer redress. The submissions can be made on: 

a. one or more of the mechanisms outlined above (including but not limited to the mandate of each mechanism, composition, types of violations to be covered, tasks to be performed) 

b. alternative structures, processes or measures to address a specific violation or multiple violations or other relevant issues (including but not limited to mandate, composition, types of violations to be covered, tasks to be performed).

Submissions can be made by individuals, groups and organizations, in Sinhala, Tamil or English. These submissions will be used in the compilation of a report, which will be submitted to the Government and made public.

The deadline for submissions is 1 May. Early submission, however, is encouraged. All submissions can be made via the submissions form on “www.scrm.gov.lk” or “[email protected]”, and also by registered post to “Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms, Republic building, Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mw., Colombo 01”.

The Task Force would like to request contact information along with submissions in the event further information is required.

Please note that your submission to the Consultation Task Force will be made public, unless you request that it should be kept confidential.