by Melani Manel Perera

Presidential Commission ends the first stage of its investigation in the Kilinochchi District (northeastern Sri Lanka). Investigators received 106 complaints and heard 76 witnesses. Some 11,500 complaints have been recorded nation-wide.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - The first stage of an investigation into alleged abductions and "enforced disappearances" ended yesterday. It covers the period in Sri Lanka's civil war that goes from 1990 to 2000 in northern and eastern provinces.

The presidential commission began the probe in the Kilinochchi District where it heard evidence from 76 witnesses based on 106 complaints.

However, "The commission has reportedly received 11,500 complaints on disappearances and 7,500 of them are from the Northern and Eastern Provinces," Secretary to the commission H.W. Genadasa said. 

The families who filed a complaint before the Commission were notified that they had to appear before the independent body looking into their case.

After kicking off in Kilinochchi (19-21 January 2014), the presidential commission established last August will move to the next stage in Mullaitivu District.

• sri
• lanka
• kilinochchi
• presidential
• commission
• abductions
• disappearances